This summer, Gareth Southgate will bring one of the most talented England teams in the nation’s history to Germany. To have such a talented generation as today’s, England has meticulously planned and invested at all levels of youth teams.
Recently, a picture of the lineup between the U15 England and U15 Belgium teams in 2017 has surprised many. The U15 England team at that time gathered many exceptional talents. After several years, how have those players from that year fared now?
The U15 England squad of 2017, where are they now?
Goalkeeper: Serine Sanneh
Sanneh has switched to playing for Gambia and is currently playing for Rusthall, an English fifth-tier team, after recovering from a long-term injury.
Defender: Matthew Dennis
Dennis was a right-back for the U15 England team in 2017, but he now plays as a center-back for MK Dons in League One and has scored 4 goals in 4 appearances this season.
Defender: Malachi Fagan-Walcott
Young center-back Fagan-Walcott is currently on loan at a team in the Scottish Championship – Dunfermline. With his contract with Cardiff City set to expire at the end of the season but still on loan, his future at the club seems to be in doubt.
Defender: Harry Williams
A graduate of the West Brom academy, Williams had to drop down to play in non-league football, but now he has returned to the EFL with Walsall in League Two, the fourth tier in England.
Defender: Tristan Cover
Left-back Tristan Cover is currently a free agent, with his most recent club being TFA Dubai in the UAE.
Midfielder: Cole Palmer
Palmer impressed to break into Pep Guardiola’s team at Man City. However, he decided not to commit to Man City and moved to Chelsea at the beginning of the 2023/24 season. There, Palmer became the star player for The Blues. He is competing for the Premier League Golden Boot and is almost certain to be part of the Euro 2024 squad.
Midfielder: Yunus Musah
Musah was the captain of the U15 England team in that match. He made a strong impression at Valencia, earning him a move to AC Milan last year. In 2020, Musah decided to represent the United States instead of England and has since earned 35 caps for the US national team.
Midfielder: Lewis Fiorini
21-year-old midfielder Lewis Fiorini is still on the books of Manchester City but is on loan at Charlton Athletic. This season, he has had limited opportunities to play for Charlton. Fiorini is currently playing for the Scotland U21 team.
Midfielder: Noni Madueke
Compared to Palmer, his Chelsea teammate, Madueke has created less impact. However, he is still regarded as a highly promising star for the future. Currently, Madueke has not made his debut for the England national team.
Midfielder: Karamoko Dembele
Dembele was once considered a prodigy at Celtic but has faded since joining Brest in France. This season, Dembele has impressed during his loan spell at Blackpool. At the age of 22, Dembele still has the opportunity to further develop.
Midfielder: Jude Bellingham
It’s hard to believe, but Bellingham had to settle for a substitute role in the match between U15 England and U15 Belgium back then. Everything has changed dramatically since then. Bellingham rose to prominence at Birmingham, then moved to Dortmund before joining Real Madrid for a record transfer fee. He is now one of the top stars in the world.
Midfielder: Jamal Musiala
Musiala and Bellingham formed a formidable midfield duo for England’s youth levels. However, in 2021, Musiala opted to represent Germany. This attacking midfielder is considered one of the brightest talents in the world and is a key player for Bayern Munich at just 21 years old.
Forward: Rafael Garcia
Garcia was associated with Everton until 2022 and is currently playing in Finland for JJK Jyväskylä. Apart from the U16 level, Garcia has not had any further appearances for the England national team. The 22-year-old player is still eligible to represent Spain.
Forward: Armstrong Okoflex
Okoflex previously played for the U15 England team but has now chosen to represent the Irish national team. He is currently playing for FC Zurich in the Swiss Super League.