Manchester City have added January transfer signing Julian Alvarez to their Premier League squad list for the current 2021/22 season, despite the fact that he will spend the rest of the campaign on loan at River Plate.
City confirmed the signing of Argentine international Alvarez on transfer deadline day, for an initial £14.1m, and he will remain at River until at least July. Should they get out of the Copa Libertadores group stage, he could remain at his boyhood club until the end of 2022.
However, Alvarez's name has appeared on the updated Premier League squad list for the current season, with the league publishing the latest squads for all teams after the January transfer window. Alvarez is included as an under-21 player, who does not count to the maximum 25-man squad limits.
This is likely to be an administration exercise, as a number of City players who are out on long-term loans are included, as are the majority of academy players.
Others, like Kluiverth Aguilar, Gavin Bazunu, Yan Couto, Finley Burns, Tommy Doyle, Lewis Fiorini, Claudio Gomes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Issa Kabore, Ante Palaversa, Morgan Rogers and James Trafford are also on the list of 74 under-21 players under contract or as scholars, despite being out on loan.
Meanwhile, the likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, James McAtee, Romeo Lavia and Kayky, who have all featured for the first team this season, are all on the under-21 list and remain eligible to feature if City need them. Liam Delap, now back from injury, is another.
After Ferran Torres' departure, there remains 19 players in the official squad, excluding under-21s, as Torres did not need to be added due to his age - like Foden. Other permanent January departures, like Philippe Sandler or any academy exits, were not on the previous squad or main list, which remains unchanged.
Clubs can name a maximum of 25 players, of which at least eight must be home grown, which means to have been registered with any club in England or Wales for three entire seasons before his 21st birthday. City currently have six homegrown squad players, and 13 non-home grown players.
Next season, Phil Foden will have to be named in the main squad due to his age, as will Alvarez.
Updated Man City Premier League squad: Ederson, Zack Steffen, Scott Carson*, Kyle Walker*, Ruben Dias, John Stones*, Nathan Ake*, Aleks Zinchenko, Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish*, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling*, Riyad Mahrez.
Selected under-21 players: Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, James McAtee, Kayky, Luke Mbete, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Romeo Lavia, Liam Delap, Julian Alvarez
