Sarina Wiegman has named her 23-player England squad for this summer’s European Championship, which includes Lauren James despite her ongoing recovery from injury.
James has not played since damaging her hamstring in April, with Wiegman stating on Monday that the Chelsea forward still “needed to tick some boxes”. Asked about James’ inclusion at a news conference following Thursday’s announcement, Wiegman said: “It’s not a risk. She’s training really well at her club. She’s at the stage we hoped she would be at this point. We’re just building her.”
The squad also includes Arsenal striker Michelle Agyemang, who scored on her international debut against Belgium in April.
England’s build-up to these Euros has been disrupted by the surprise absences of three senior players — goalkeeper Mary Earps, centre-back Millie Bright, and forward Fran Kirby.
Earps surprisingly retired from international football in May — five weeks before the start of the tournament — while Kirby took the same step back on Tuesday after being told she would not be included in Wiegman’s final squad.
Bright withdrew from contention on Wednesday, after stating on social media that she is “not able to give 100 per cent mentally or physically”.
All three senior players played important parts in the Lioness’ Euro 2022 win and have 218 caps between them, with Bright and Earps captain and vice-captain respectively for the 2023 World Cup.
Bright’s absence is likely to be filled by a combination of Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier and Arsenal’s Lotte Wubben-Moy.
The biggest names to miss out were Brighton’s Nikita Parris, capped 71 times by England, and Aston Villa’s Missy Bo Kearns, who made her international debut against Spain this week.
Kearns, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Sophie Baggaley, Laura Blindkilde Brown of Manchester City and Aston Villa’s Lucy Parker are included on the standby list and will stay with the squad at St. George’s Park from the meet–up on Monday, June 16 through to the day the squad travel to Switzerland on Monday, June 30.
Elsewhere, despite this week’s withdrawals, this is still the core of Wiegman’s Euro 2022-winning team, with 13 players included in both squads. Leah Williamson and Beth Mead will return to major tournament action after missing out on the 2023 World Cup with ACL injuries.
‘James inclusion worth the risk’
This has been a disruptive week for England, but despite the issues of the past week, this is still a vastly experienced squad, in the starting XI at least.
Bright was the only player of the trio who would have been expected to start — Manchester City’s Esme Morgan will likely play in her place. Wubben-Moy and Le Tissier are the likely beneficiaries of Bright’s withdrawals, though Wiegman sees the latter as a full-back despite her playing as a centre-back and earning a spot in the Women’s Super League (WSL) team of the season at Manchester United.
James’ selection makes sense — she is England’s sparkiest attacker. The race is on to see if she will be fit to face France on July 5 but even if she is not quite ready, James is a player that is worth the risk.
Agyemang is the bolter selection but with England slightly light in midfield outside the starters, this is a choice in squad composition that could be critiqued.
This squad has no specialist left-back, but Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood are experienced players in that role at international level, with Wiegman stating over previous months that versatility was a key stipulation in her selection philosophy. Niamh Carter has also regularly played there for Chelsea, and started there during the 2-1 defeat by Spain on Tuesday.
England Euro 2025 squad in full
Goalkeepers (3): Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Anna Moorhouse (Orlando Pride)
Defenders (8): Lucy Bronze (Chelsea), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal), Jess Carter (Gotham FC), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Maya Le Tissier (Manchester United), Esme Morgan (Washington Spirit), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City)
Midfielders (5): Grace Clinton (Manchester United), Jess Park (Manchester City), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Keira Walsh (Chelsea)
Forwards (7): Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Arsenal), Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Michelle Agyemang (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
(Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
