Meet the England men's under-17 squad taking part in the UEFA Under-17 Championship

From the greats of yesteryear like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, to the current hottest properties in world football such as Erling Haaland, the UEFA Under-17 Championship is often the first opportunity fans have to see the next generation of stars on the global stage.

Over the next couple of weeks, the current England men’s under-17s squad will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the classes of 2010 and 2014 by lifting the Under-17 European Championship trophy.

The players flew out to Hungary on Monday evening and after naming the squad on Wednesday morning, will tonight take on Croatia in their first group match, which kicks off at 7pm and will be shown live on the BBC red button, iPlayer and website.

Fans excited by the next generation of talent might be aware of their club’s standout youngsters but just how much do you know about Ryan Garry’s England men’s under-17 squad?

1.Tommy Setford (goalkeeper) 

After spending a chunk of this season on the sidelines with a wrist injury, Tommy Setford returned to play every minute of the elite round of qualifying for MU17s in the Netherlands. It is a country he knows well with both he and his brother Charlie, who is an England MU20 international, playing for Dutch giants Ajax.

2. Josh Acheampong (defender)

Versatile defender Josh Acheampong has been in Chelsea’s system since the under-8s and is a consistent performer for club and country. Acheampong started five of the MU17’s six EURO qualifiers.

3. Somto Boniface (defender)

Another who has been with Chelsea from an early age, London-born Somtochukwu Boniface has been a regular in the England MU17 squad and started two of the three elite round qualification matches in the Netherlands.

4. Myles Lewis-Skelly (midfielder)

Another of the under-16 players, Myles Lewis-Skelly has enjoyed a hugely successful season as he helped Arsenal Under-18s to the FA Youth Cup final. Despite his young age, the talented midfielder started five out of MU17s’ six EURO qualifiers this season.

5. Lakyle Samuel (defender)

Another who can play in multiple positions, Lakyle Samuel has featured regularly for Manchester City Under-21s this season. Samuel is one of England MU17s’ leaders in the dressing room and has captained the side on occasions this season.

6. Ishé Samuels-Smith (defender)

Highly-rated Ishé Samuels-Smith has already made the Everton first team bench despite being just 16 years old. From Manchester, the defender was a regular for Everton Under-21s this season and played every minute of England’s Under-17 EURO qualifying campaign.

7. Justin Oboavwoduo (forward)

Justin Oboavwoduo has been prolific this season, scoring 23 goals in 30 games for Manchester City Under-18s, including both goals in the U18 Premier League final win over West Ham United. The tricky forward featured in all six of England MU17s’ EURO qualifiers.

8. Archie Gray (midfielder)

Football and Leeds United are in his blood. His Dad Andy played for Leeds, Sheffield United and many more as striker, he’s the great nephew of the legendary Eddie Gray and grandad Frank Gray also played for the Whites. Gray has been highly-rated for some time, first appearing on the bench for Leeds’ first team as a 15-year-old and has now been in the squad on 13 occasions over the last two seasons.

9. Leon Chiwome (forward)

Leon Chiwome has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years. He joined AFC Wimbledon in 2021 after being scouted while playing for Alfold FC and the Sussex Schools FA team and after just a year at the club, was signed by Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers. Chiwome was new to England’s talent pathway this season and marked his first start for the MU17s with a hat-trick against Germany, meaning he has three goals in as many appearances for Ryan Garry’s side.

10. Michael Golding (midfielder)

Michael Golding is one of the leaders in the squad, captaining the MU17s during the four Under-17 EURO qualifying matches he started this season. One of three brothers in professional clubs’ set-ups, Golding is another who can play in multiple positions and has been very consistent this season. 

11. Ethan Nwaneri (forward)

Ethan Nwaneri became the Premier League’s youngest ever player when he came on for Arsenal in September’s match with Brentford at the age of just 15 years and 181 days. The forward was England MU17s’ top goalscorer in qualifying, finding the net six times in as many games across the two rounds.

12. Jayden Meghoma (defender)

A defender for Southampton Under-21s, Jayden Meghoma started half of England MU17’s EURO qualifiers this term. Strong in attack and defence, the 16-year-old played every minute as Southampton reached the FA Youth Cup semi-final, having joined the club in October from Tottenham Hotspur.

13. Ted Curd (goalkeeper)

Ted Curd has been at Chelsea since under-9 level and has played regularly for the Blues Under-18s this season, as well as being on the bench in the Premier League 2 on multiple occasions. Now 17, the goalkeeper first linked up with the MU17s as a 15-year-old and started all three of the Young Lions’ qualifying round games back in October, making six appearances in total for Garry’s side this season.

14. Isaiah Dada-Mascoll (midfielder)

Isaiah Dada-Mascoll was a key member of the Manchester City Under-18s team who reached the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup and is someone who can play in multiple positions. The 16-year-old recovered from an injury earlier in the season to play regularly for club and country, featuring in all three elite round games.

15. Mofe Jemide (defender)

One of four under-16 players in the squad, Crystal Palace defender Mofe Jemide will be doing his GCSE exams while away at the Under-17 EURO. He has been on three MU17 camps this season, starting once and coming on twice in the three elite round qualifiers, and transmits really good energy around the squad.

16. Finley McAllister (midfielder)

Manchester United midfielder Finley McAllister enjoyed a good start to the campaign, captaining the England Under-17s in their matches with Faroe Islands, Finland and Norway, but then suffered an injury which ruled him out of much of the campaign. He returned to action in April and is now looking to make up for lost time in Hungary at this summer’s Under-17 EURO.

17. Tyler Dibling (forward)

Tyler Dibling scored twice and assisted another during Under-17 EURO qualification, starting four games and coming on in the other two. Dibling signed his professional contract with Southampton in February after re-joining the club following a brief spell at Chelsea last year.

18. Kiano Dyer (midfielder)

Kiano Dyer is one of the under-16s in the squad but despite his young age, has featured consistently in MU17 squads this season. The 16-year-old brings positive energy both on the pitch and off it, and already has 11 MU17 caps to his name.

19. Zakariya Lovelace (forward)

After making his senior Rangers debut in the Scottish League Cup back in August, Zakariya Lovelace came on in his first Old Firm Derby match in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Celtic. The prolific former Millwall youngster made one start and one substitute appearance for the MU17s during EURO qualifying.

20. Kadan Young (forward)

Kadan Young has linked up with the MU17s for the first time this season after a stellar campaign which earned him a place on Aston Villa’s first team bench on six occasions. Quick, direct and creative, Young signed his first professional contract with Villa after his 17th birthday in January.

22.  Finlay Herrick (goalkeeper)

Another valued member of the goalkeepers’ union, Finlay Herrick has enjoyed a hugely successful season with West Ham United Under-18s, who won the FA Youth Cup for the first time in 24 years and claimed the Under-18 Premier League South title. Herrick has made two appearances for the MU17s and was understudy to Tommy Setford during the elite round of qualifying in March.