GNK Dinamo Zagreb has named a squad of just 23 players for the UEFA Europa League, two short of the maximum permitted 25. The reason is UEFA's specific rules on homegrown players, as reported by Gol.hr on Wednesday. The club currently sits third in the HNL table with 10 points from four games, just two points behind leaders NK Osijek.
Why does Dinamo have a smaller squad?
UEFA allows clubs to register up to 25 players for the Europa League on the so-called A-list. However, there are strict rules regarding 'homegrown' players. A club must have at least eight players who spent at least three seasons between the ages of 15 and 21 at the club or within the domestic football system. Of those eight, at least four must be 'club-trained', meaning they came through Dinamo's own youth academy. Dinamo currently has only six players who meet this criterion. Each missing homegrown player automatically reduces the A-list by one spot. This is why the list has been cut to 23 players.
Head coach Marija Kovačević clearly explained the situation. "This is not the decision of coach Marija Kovačević, but UEFA's rules on players developed at the club and in domestic football," she said. This is not a strategic choice but an administrative necessity imposed by the European regulator.
Who cannot be on the B-list?
Clubs also have the option of a B-list for younger players. The B-list rules require a player to be born after January 1, 2005, and to have spent at least two consecutive seasons or three seasons in total at the club or within domestic football. However, three players do not meet these conditions. Fran Topić, Paul Bismarck Tabinas, and Noah Nsoki cannot be moved to the B-list. This means Dinamo cannot free up spots on the main list by transferring these players to the secondary list.
The B-list is separate and does not affect the number of spots on the A-list. Players on the B-list can be registered for matches up to one hour before kickoff. But a player meeting the B-list criteria is not automatically registered. That is a separate administrative step.
How does this affect Dinamo's season?
The reduced squad comes as Dinamo shows good form in the domestic league. In the first four HNL matches, they have scored 11 goals, conceded only three, and have a positive goal difference of plus eight. Their recent run of form is a draw and three wins. This good form will be important as the club enters European competition with a slightly smaller selection of players than it could have had.
Dinamo faces the challenge of managing the schedule with a smaller number of registered players for the Europa League. This will require careful planning by the coaching staff. The club will need to optimize its resources for competition on two fronts. The current status on our standings page shows they are very close to the top in the HNL.
What is next for the club?
Dinamo now prepares for its next HNL match. They will face HNK Gorica at home on September 5, 2026. Gorica is currently in 10th place in the table. This home game represents an opportunity for Dinamo to continue its run of good results before European challenges. You can follow all upcoming matches on our fixtures page.
The club will need to continue working on developing its own youth products to avoid similar squad list situations in the future. This is a long-term challenge for many clubs competing in UEFA competitions. For now, Dinamo enters the Europa League with 23 registered players on its official list.
