England MU18s squad named for France double header

Neil Ryan has named a 27-player squad for England men’s under-18s’ double header against France at St. George’s Park.

The Young Lions will play their first fixture on Thursday 9 October (6pm BST kick-off) at the National Football Centre.

England will then face Les Bleuets in the second of the two games on Sunday 12 October (2pm BST kick-off).

Ryan’s team are gearing up for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup which takes place in Qatar in November.

The Young Lions got their preparations for the tournament off to a flying start, registering three wins from three in September at the Costa De La Luz U18 international tournament – which they were crowned champions of – in Spain.

England ran out 3-1 winners against Uzbekistan before beating Morocco 4-1 and signing off September with a 3-2 victory over Canada.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Owen Asemota (Aston Villa), Lanre Awesu (West Ham United), Dylan Moody (Southampton), Jack Porter (Arsenal)

Defenders: Kaden Braithwaite (Manchester City), Jun’ai Byfield (Tottenham Hotspur), Dante Headley (Manchester City), Wesley Okoduwa (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Freddie Simmonds (Brighton and Hove Albion), Elijah Upson (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Landon Emenalo (Chelsea), Bradley Burrowes (Aston Villa), Ifeoluwa Ibrahim (Arsenal), Bendito Mantato (Manchester United), Harrison Miles (Manchester City), Chinazaekpere Nwosu (Nottingham Forest)*, Louis Page (Leicester City), Seth Ridgeon (Fulham), Reggie Walsh (Chelsea)

Forwards: Benjamin Casey (Crystal Palace), Chizaram Ezenwata (Chelsea), Reigan Heskey (Manchester City), Ryan McAidoo (Manchester City), Alejandro Rodriguez (Olympique Lyonnais), Tynan Thompson (Tottenham Hotspur), Igor Tyjon (Blackburn Rovers)

* Called up following the withdrawal of Harry Howell (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Luca Williams-Barnett (Tottenham Hotspur)