I’m hoping the EFL know their rules scroll down the definitions
https://www.efl.com/-more/governance/efl-rules--regulations/section-1----general/
You take a punt .... If they are not good enough at that age they need to drift into non league and get picked up later.
Wherever that was sourced from is incorrect, the EFL rules on squad limit exceptions are in section 43.9.2 of the rules here, it says under 21s are exempt:
EFL Official Website - Section 6 - Players
www.efl.com
(The EFL's glossary defines an Under 21 as anyone that wasn't at least 21 years old on 1st of January of whichever year the season began in (so next season that will be 1st January 2021).
Thank you both. We currently have 34 pros at the club
So for next season
Under contract and would count towards squad limit
Nathaniel-George
Phillips
Akinola
Under contract but would not count towards squad limit
Walsh
Club option, would count towards squad limit
Demetriou
Ralph
Clifford
Gard
Klass
Howard
Club option, would not count towards squad limit
Seaden, Osimeh, MItchell-Nelson, Egbri, Benton, Stewart, Rush
Out of contract, would count towards squad limit
Oxley, Bwomono, Kyprianou, Hobson, Lennon, White, Hart, Halford, McCormack, Dieng, Goodship
Out of contract, would not count towards squad limit
Richard Taylor, Kinali, Acquah
Loanees, would count towards squad limit
Kyle Taylor, Hackett-Fairchild
Loanees, would not count towards squad limit
Olayinka