Man Utd Fans in Disbelief as Club Confirm Shock Name in Premier League Squad

Manchester United have added a surprise player to their Premier League squad for the 2025/26 season.

Teams had a deadline of September 12 to submit their squads to the Premier League.

Each squad must contain eight homegrown players, with clubs able to register as many under-21 players - those born on or after January 1, 2005 - as they wish.

United have confirmed that a total of 21 senior players have been included in their squad.

Several stars, like Patrick Dorgu, Leny Yoro and Kobbie Mainoo, have not been registered as they fall under the under-21 rule.

Tom Heaton, Dermot Mee, Rhys Bennett, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Amad are the squad's seven homegrown players, with United leaving a unfilled space in the squad to account for the missing eighth player.

But it is another player's inclusion that has left fans stunned.

Left-back Tyrell Malacia has been named as part of their 21-man squad, despite being in United's 'bomb squad' throughout pre-season.

United's full Premier League squad (Image: Manchester United)

The Dutchman was one of five United players to be effectively banned from entering Carrington until after 5pm, when the first team squad had left.

Malacia and the four other players - Jadon Sancho, Antony, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho - were all told that they had no futures at Old Trafford and were not considered for first team selection before the end of the transfer window.

But while the four aforementioned players sealed either loan or permanent moves away from United, Malacia has been forced to stay put.

A loan move to La Liga club Elche fell through on deadline day, with talkSPORT's Alex Crook claiming that the defender was not keen on a move to Eyupspor after the Turkish club made initial contact with United.

United can still sell or loan out Malacia as the window for the Saudi Pro League - his last remaining realistic option until the new year - doesn't close until September 23.

But without any indication of genuine interest from those clubs, it appears that the 27-year-old will be a Manchester United player until January.

Malacia's most recent Manchester United-related Instagram post was in January (Image: Instagram/@tyrellmalacia)

As a result, the club and Amorim have decided that Malacia will be part of the first team once again - though it is unclear as to how significant a role he will play.

Dorgu is United's firm first choice at left wing-back, while 18-year-old Diego Leon has been in and around first team training and featured in pre-season.

Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot can also move over to the left flank if required.

Reacting to United's decision to register Malacia, one fan wrote: "What's the point of adding Malacia into the squad?"

Another asked: "How is Malacia still in the squad btw."

And a third wrote: "He's number five in the pecking order. It doesn't look good for him."

While a fourth had a different view: "I'm not mad at this. Dorgu still hasn't locked down the position."