Homegrown Territories 2025

Last year, several teams in the European League of Football (ELF) took the opportunity to sign players from neighboring countries as “homegrowns”. The Wrocław Panthers were able to recruit talented players from Ukraine, the Prague Lions brought in players from Slovakia and the Fehérvár Enthroners brought players from Romania into the team. Homegrowns are players who started playing football in the respective countries and fall under the “homegrown salary cap” of the respective franchise.

This season, the regulation will be expanded to include additional regions. The Nordic Storm from Denmark can now sign players from Sweden as Homegrowns. The Wrocław Panthers from Poland have access to talent from the Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia), while the Fehérvár Enthroners can also bring in players from Serbia as Homegrowns. This expansion allows the franchises to integrate and promote even more young talents from all over Europe in the ELF.

A remarkable new provision concerns the assignment of Italian players. Football talents who started their careers in eastern northern Italy can now be signed as Homegrowns by the Austrian franchises (Raiders Tirol and Vienna Vikings). Players from western northern Italy, on the other hand, can be designated as Homegrowns by the Helvetic Mercenaries (Switzerland). This regulation strengthens the presence of the ELF in Italy and offers talented players the opportunity to develop at the highest level.

The expansion of the homegrown areas is intended to further improve the competitive balance within the league and create new opportunities for players across Europe. Through this regulation, talents outside the limited E-spots now have the opportunity to prove themselves in the ELF and continue their development.

Patrick Esume, Commissioner of the European League of Football, emphasizes the importance of this update: “Developing new homegrown heroes in previously untapped territories is a top priority for us. We are aware of the potential in countries like Serbia and the Baltic States and want to give these players a platform to showcase their skills. Especially in Italy, it is important for us to maintain a strong presence and offer talents the opportunity to compete at the highest level. With the new regulations, players from Northern Italy can now more easily move to the franchises that suit them best and showcase their skills.”