Premier League 2025/26 Retained Lists: Key Insights and Strategies

The Premier League’s class of 2025/26 is beginning to take shape. Contracts have been triggered, options exercised and academy prospects nudged a step closer to the spotlight, as all 20 clubs submit their retained lists ahead of the new season.

On paper, it’s just a roll call of names. In reality, it’s a map of intent.

Arsenal double down on their core

At Arsenal, there is no appetite for disruption. The club lock in the spine that has dragged them back into contention: Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka all remain central to the project, while Gabriel, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli (Teodoro Martinelli Silva, Gabriel) stay in support of a squad built to compete on multiple fronts.

There’s a clear technical slant to the midfield: Mikel Merino joins Rice, Christian Norgaard and Fabio Vieira on the books, with Eberechi Eze adding a dribbler’s edge between the lines. Viktor Gyökeres is retained as the reference point up front, and Noni Madueke’s presence underlines Arsenal’s desire for width and one‑v‑one threat.

The scholars list is no afterthought. Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis‑Skelly and a cluster of young technicians are kept on, with offer contracts to the likes of Aleksander Marciniak and Oluwatoyosi Ogunnaike hinting at a conveyor belt that will not slow for anyone.

Manchester City keep the machine intact

If Arsenal are consolidating, Manchester City are reinforcing a dynasty. Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Jack Grealish all stay, as expected. But the retained list shows more than just star power.

City hold on to Gianluigi Donnarumma, a statement in goal, while the defensive rotation of Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis remains untouched. In midfield, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Tijjani Reijnders give Pep Guardiola an enviable blend of control and verticality, with Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku offering chaos higher up.

The academy core is protected too. Prospects such as Claudio Echeverri, Savio and Joel Ndala are retained, and offer contracts go to Reigan Heskey and others, ensuring the Etihad production line continues to feed the first team and the market alike.

Manchester United back their rebuild

Across town, Manchester United’s retained list underlines a squad in transition but not in retreat. Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana remain the pillars of the rebuild, while new defensive leadership is underlined by the presence of Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire.

Up front, United keep faith with Benjamin Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee as long‑term solutions, with Bruno Fernandes still the creative heartbeat. Manuel Ugarte’s retention signals a push for more aggression in midfield.

The club also hold on to a deep group of young talent: Shea Lacey, Amir Ibragimov and a raft of scholars stay in the system, with offer contracts for Albert Mills and Dante Plunkett pointing to a deliberate attempt to grow the next core from within rather than chase every solution on the market.

Liverpool refresh around a new axis

Liverpool’s list reads like a squad in mid‑evolution. Virgil van Dijk and Alisson stay as the senior anchors, but the future is written around Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and a new wave of talent.

Federico Chiesa, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak headline the retained attacking options, giving Liverpool a flexible, high‑ceiling forward line. Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic remain in place, with Giorgi Mamardashvili and Konstantinos Tsimikas bolstering depth in key positions.

The club keep a tight grip on their academy prospects. Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and a string of young names are retained, while offer contracts for the likes of Prince Kobe Cisse and Oliver Evans O’Connor show that the pathway from Kirkby to Anfield is still very much alive.

Chelsea’s super‑squad stays stacked

Chelsea’s retained list is as sprawling as ever and just as ambitious. Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia all stay to form a powerful midfield trio, with Cole Palmer retained as the creative spearhead of the project.

At the back, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Reece James remain, while Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto continue to offer versatility. The attacking group is loaded: Mykhailo Mudryk, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Bynoe‑Gittens, Joao Pedro (Junqueira De Jesus, Joao Pedro) and Andrey Santos all stay on the books.

Chelsea also hold on to a dense cluster of youth talent – from Kendry Paez to Jimmy‑Jay Morgan and Shumaira Mheuka – and extend an offer to Ronnie Stutter, reinforcing the club’s long‑standing strategy of stockpiling potential and seeing who rises.

Tottenham shape a sharper, younger core

Tottenham’s retained list points to a squad being sharpened rather than torn up. James Maddison, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro all stay as the structural backbone, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr offering control and legs in midfield.

The front line brims with energy and versatility. Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Richarlison and Manor Solomon are all retained, while Mathys Tel and Dane Scarlett remain as high‑upside forwards. The presence of Conor Gallagher hints at a pressing identity in the middle third.

Spurs keep a close hold on their younger crop too. Xavi Simons, Lucas Bergvall and a string of home‑grown prospects are retained, and an offer contract for Elijah Upson shows the club’s intent to keep the academy pipeline flowing under a clear tactical idea.

Newcastle and Aston Villa refuse to blink

Newcastle United’s list screams continuity. Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman, Sandro Tonali and Nick Pope stay, with Lewis Hall and Valentino Livramento retained as the next generation of full‑backs. Anthony Elanga, Harvey Barnes and Yoane Wissa give Eddie Howe direct running and goals from wide areas, while Nick Woltemade and Baran Yildiz add size and promise up front.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, keep the core that has pushed them into European contention. Emiliano Martinez, John McGinn, Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa remain, with Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans still in place. Newer names such as Ian Maatsen, Donyell Malen and Victor Lindelof stay to deepen a squad now expected to cope with the demands of Europe as well as the league.

Both clubs also protect their academies, with Villa offering deals to the likes of Jack Allan and Newcastle extending several of their scholars, underlining a long‑term approach rather than a quick grab at short‑term fixes.

West Ham and Fulham quietly build depth

West Ham United’s retained list looks built for balance. Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek and James Ward‑Prowse all remain, giving the Hammers a rugged, experienced midfield. Jarrod Bowen stays as the talismanic wide threat, with Niclas Fullkrug and Callum Wilson retained to provide goals and presence up top.

At the back, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Maximilian Kilman and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka stay on, while Kyle Walker‑Peters offers flexibility down either flank. The club also keep a close eye on their youth, issuing offer contracts to Majid Balogun and Lewis Beckford among others.

Fulham, for their part, preserve a calm, seasoned core. Bernd Leno, Antonee Robinson and Joachim Andersen remain at the back, with Sander Berge, Sasa Lukic and Tom Cairney giving Marco Silva a mix of size and guile in midfield. Emile Smith Rowe and Oscar Bobb are retained as creative sparks around the attack, while Rodrigo Muniz stays as a central option.

Offer contracts to several youngsters, including Michael Allen and Eddy Nwoko Junior, show Fulham are not content to stand still beneath the first team.

Everton and Leeds brace for the grind

Everton’s retained list is built for resilience. Jordan Pickford and Jarrad Branthwaite stay as the defensive bedrock, with Nathan Patterson and Vitalii Mykolenko still in situ at full‑back. In midfield, James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall are retained to add energy and passing range, while Iliman Ndiaye and Beto’s compatriot Norberto Gomes Betuncal remain as attacking options.

The Toffees also keep a cluster of promising youngsters, offering contracts to Ademide Akarakiri and Melvin Matos among others, a vital move for a club that may need to lean on its academy more than most.

Leeds United’s list, back in the top flight, has a distinctly robust feel. Ethan Ampadu, Pascal Struijk and Jaka Bijol all stay, giving Leeds height and aggression in defence and midfield. Jack Harrison, Wilfried Gnonto and Dan James remain as direct threats from wide areas, while Dominic Calvert‑Lewin and Joel Piroe are retained as the focal points up front.

A series of extended and offer contracts to scholars such as George Kenyon and William Firth suggest Leeds are determined to keep their youth structure intact as they adjust again to Premier League demands.

New faces, firm hands at Palace, Wolves and Forest

Crystal Palace’s retained list underlines a squad that has quietly added quality. Dean Henderson and Joachim Andersen’s replacement Maxence Lacroix stay to stabilise the back line, with Tyrick Mitchell and Jefferson Lerma retained as defensive mainstays. Cheick Doucoure and Daichi Kamada (offer) provide control in midfield, while Matheus Franca, Brennan Johnson, Jesurun Rak‑Sakyi and Yeremy Pino give Palace a thrilling, youthful attacking mix.

Wolves keep faith with a physically imposing group. Jose Sa, Sasa Kalajdzic, Hwang Hee‑Chan and Jean‑Ricner Bellegarde all stay, as do Pedro Neto’s compatriots in a flexible attacking unit. Yerson Mosquera, Hugo Bueno and Ki‑Jana Hoever remain as defensive options, with Marshall Munetsi offering steel in midfield. Offer contracts to Conor McLeod and others show Wolves are still investing in raw edges.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, retain a squad brimming with athleticism. Morgan Gibbs‑White, Callum Hudson‑Odoi and Taiwo Awoniyi all stay, with Ibrahim Sangare and Nicolas Dominguez anchoring midfield. Newer additions such as Luca Netz and Dan Ndoye are kept, giving Forest pace down the flanks and depth at full‑back. The club also secure several scholars, including extended terms for Jordan Willows, signalling a continued commitment to youth beneath an ever‑busy senior squad.

Bournemouth, Brighton and Brentford stay smart

AFC Bournemouth’s list reflects a club that knows exactly what it is. Dominic Solanke, Luis Sinisterra, Marcos Senesi (offer) and Justin Kluivert are all retained, with Lewis Cook and Ryan Christie kept to knit the side together. Enes Unal and Adrien Truffert remain as key pieces in attack and at left‑back, while the Cherries also hold on to a series of young talents, including offers for Fraser Forster and George Chubinidze.

Brighton & Hove Albion, predictably, look one step ahead. Evan Ferguson, Kaoru Mitoma, Pascal Gross and Lewis Dunk all stay, but it’s the depth beneath them that stands out. Georginio Rutter, Yankuba Minteh, Jeremy Sarmiento and Carlos Baleba are retained, giving Brighton a fluid, interchangeable front line. Mats Wieffer and Ferdi Kadioglu add control and versatility, while a clutch of scholars receive offer contracts to keep the pipeline stocked.

Brentford, specialists in smart recruitment, keep their core intact. Ethan Pinnock, Nathan Collins and Rico Henry remain in defence, with Mathias Jensen, Vitaly Janelt and Mikkel Damsgaard retained in midfield. Keane Lewis‑Potter, Kevin Schade and Dango Ouattara all stay to provide running power and goals, while Caoimhin Kelleher and Hakon Valdimarsson give Thomas Frank strong options in goal. Offer contracts to Valentino Adedokun and Ethan Laidlaw show the Bees are still hunting value on the margins.

Sunderland step up, Burnley regroup

Sunderland’s retained list carries the air of a club ready to punch up. Granit Xhaka, Nordi Mukiele, Enzo Le Fée and Abdoullah Ba are all kept, giving the Black Cats surprising top‑level experience in midfield and defence. Brian Brobbey, Simon Adingra and Jack Clarke’s contemporaries remain as attacking threats, while a healthy group of scholars receive offer contracts, underlining a plan that stretches well beyond survival.

Burnley, heading into another hard season, keep a competitive core. Louis Beyer, Hjalmar Ekdal and Maxime Estève remain at the back, with Josh Cullen and Hannibal Mejbri retained in midfield. Up front, Armando Broja and Lyle Foster stay as central options, with Zeki Amdouni and Luca Koleosho providing movement around them. A series of extended and offer contracts for youngsters such as Joseph Bauress and Thomas McDermott show Vincent Kompany’s club still banking on development as much as recruitment.

The margins that decide a season

Retained lists rarely grab headlines. There are no transfer fees, no unveiling photos, no grand declarations. Yet this is where strategies harden.

Who is trusted. Who is pushed. Who is quietly moved aside.

From City and Arsenal doubling down on title‑chasing cores, to Sunderland and Leeds betting on blended experience and youth, the 2025/26 Premier League field is already being drawn before a ball is kicked.

The names are in. The contracts are signed. The question now is simple: which of these squads has been built not just to survive another season, but to change it?