50 England Under-21 Players in the Championship 2017/18
Gk – Harry Burgoyne, Luke Southwood
Def – James Bree, Josh Dacres-Cogley, Rico Henry, Taylor Moore, Farrend Rawson, Max Lowe, Dael Fry, Joe Worrall, Max Clark, Easah Suliman, Zak Vyner, Josh Earl, Steven Sessegnon, Lloyd Kelly, Tennai Watson, Josh Emmanuel
Mid – Teddy Bishop, Andre Dozzell, Ronaldo Vieira, Harrison Chapman, James Maddison, Matty Cash, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ryan Sessegnon, Flynn Downes, Elliot Embleton, Will Miller, Tayo Edun, Matt O’Riley, Tristan Nydam, Fred Onyedinma, Callum Cooke, Ben Godfrey, Louis Reed
For – Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Andre Green, Che Adams, Mason Bennett, Jarrod Bowen, Tyler Walker, Ben Brereton, George Hirst, Josh Maja, Donovan Wilson, Keinan Davis, Marcus Tavernier, Danny Loader, Bright Osayi-Samuel
There’s some very good young talent floating about in the Championship. It’s definitely the league to be in if you are a young player as you’ll get chances to play. A fair few of these youngsters have already played for England’s youth teams and will continue to do so. Here’s a composite team of these Under 21 footballers.
- Harry Burgoyne
- James Bree
- Rico Henry
- Tayo Edun
- Dael Fry
- Joe Worrall
- Ryan Sessegnon
- James Maddison
- Jarrod Bowen
- Keinan Davis
- Andre Green
This is an exciting team and Premier League scouts will be watching these players over the course of this season to see how they can push on & improve. It’s an exciting set of footballers and hopefully they can do well this season and beyond. The future still looks pretty good for youngsters playing for Championship clubs as the development pathways aren’t so blocked and it’s going to be very interesting to see how these fifty players can develop over the next few years.
50 England Under-21 Players in the Premier League 2017/18
Gk – Angus Gunn, Aaron Ramsdale, Freddie Woodman, Dean Henderson
Def – Jake Clarke-Salter, Fikayo Tomori, Mason Holgate, Jonjoe Kenny, Callum Connolly, Ben Chilwell, Joe Gomez, Trent Arnold, Axel Tuanzebe, Josh Tymon, Kyle Walker-Peters, Reece Oxford, Dujon Sterling, Jay Dasilva, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James
Mid – Lewis Cook, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Kasey Palmer, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tom Davies, Kieran Dowell, Sheyi Ojo, Josh Sims, Dele Alli, Harry Winks, Marcus Edwards, Josh Onomah, Sam Field, Angel Gomes, Mason Mount, Phil Foden, Reiss Nelson, Ovie Ejaria, Ryan Kent
For – Tammy Abraham, Izzy Brown, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ade Lookman, Demarai Gray, Dominic Solanke, Patrick Roberts, Marcus Rashford, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Adam Armstrong, Jonathan Leko
Here’s the best 50 English Under 21 players signed to Premier League clubs. Of course this is a subjective list but there are some very good players on here and who are emerging. Hopefully they’ll get plenty of gametime to develop but that is another story.
Here’s a potential team made up of these players.
- Angus Gunn
- Jonjoe Kenny
- Ben Chilwell
- Harry Winks
- Fikayo Tomori
- Joe Gomez
- Patrick Roberts
- Ruben Loftus-Cheek
- Tammy Abraham
- Dele Alli
- Marcus Rashford
This is a very good England Under 21 team. Already Winks, Alli & Rashford have played for England and it won’t be long till the likes of Abraham & Loftus-Cheek make the step up. It’s going to be a very interesting couple of years watching these players emerge and develop further. Let’s just hope they can fulfil their potential with England and in the Premier League.
We are month on from the transfer window closing. There’s still plenty of free agents about. Players will still be gradually picked off if clubs need re-inforcements as January is still a long way away. Here’s a current list of free agents who are still to find a club.
Free Agents
Gk – Charlie Bannister, Ross Turnbull, Will Puddy, Chris Kettings
Def – Marcin Wasilewski, Seb Bassong, Joleon Lescott, Benoit Tremoulinas, Juan Rafael Fuentes, Callam Jones, Kelvin Wilson, Bacary Sagna, Sam Westley, Adam Henley, Joel Ekstrand, Stephen Kelly, Lewin Nyatanga, Matty Templeton, Reece Wabara, Lewis Buxton, Bob Harris, Ryan McGivern, James O’Connor, Aymen Belaid
Mid – Kieran Richardson, Cameron Stewart, Dale Jennings, Tom Hateley, Jay Spearing, Jan Kirchhoff, Danny Guthrie, Youssouf Mulumbu, Kris Commons, Mathieu Flamini, Carlos De Pena, Lewis McGugan, Aidy White, Giles Coke, Larnell Cole, Aaron Kuhl, Lee Williamson, Toumani Diagouraga, Chris Dawson, Modou Sougou, Mark Davies, Jerome Thomas, Kieran Wallace, Franck Moussa
For – Rickie Lambert, Jose Antonio Reyes, Giuseppe Rossi, Andre Wright, Leon Best, Matty Fryatt, Vahid Hambo, Dexter Blackstock, Ishmael Miller, Sylvan Ebanke-Blake, Rai Simons, Ruud Boymans, Carlton Cole, Alberto Gilardino
Here’s 30 English players born in each year from 1995-2000
1995
Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, Jordon Ibe, Lewis Baker, Sullay Kaikai, Luke Shaw, Matt Targett, Sam McQueen, Sam Gallagher, Jack Grealish, Will Hughes, Kalvin Phillips, Rolando Aarons, Issac Hayden, Jamie Sterry, Jacob Murphy, John Swift, Dominic Iorfa, Kortney Hause, Chuba Akpom, James Wilson, Harrison Reed, Sam Gallagher, Ashley Fletcher, Ben Pearson, Jordan Graham, Zach Clough, Josh Harrop, Joel Coleman, Callum Robinson
1996
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Dele Alli, Angus Gunn, Brendan Galloway, Harry Winks, Demarai Gray, Ben Chilwell, Mason Holgate, Kasey Palmer, Cohen Bramall, Charlie Colkett, Joe Williams, Cameron Brannagan, Ryan Kent, Matthew Willock, Reece Burke, Che Adams, Jarrod Bowen, Ashley Smith-Brown, Brandon Barker, Joe Riley, Josh Dacres-Cogley, Max Clark, Mason Bennett, Teddy Bishop, Fred Onyedinma, James Maddison, Tyler Walker, Kean Bryan, Jake Hesketh
1997
Marcus Rashford, Tammy Abraham, Patrick Roberts, Freddie Woodman, Jonjoe Kenny, Lewis Cook, Fikayo Tomori, Jake Clarke-Salter, Josh Onomah, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Dominic Solanke, Ademola Lookman, Kyle Walker-Peters, Dael Fry, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Kieran Dowell, Sheyi Ojo, Joe Gomez, Joe Worrall, Izzy Brown, Rico Henry, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Josh Sims, Adam Armstrong, Ovie Ejaria, Tosin Adarabioyo, Callum Connolly, Ezri Konsa, Dean Henderson, Harry Chapman
1998
Trent Arnold, Tom Davies, Reece Oxford, Aaron Ramsdale, Jay Dasilva, Tayo Edun, Darnell Johnson, Easah Suliman, Jacob Maddox, Marcus Edwards, Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, Josh Da Silva, Lukas Nmecha, Demeaco Duhaney, Sam Field, Ronaldo Vieira, Keinan Davis, Andre Green, Stephy Mavididi, Chris Willock, Josh Grant, Ike Ugbo, Kaylen Hinds, Nathan Holland, Cameron Humphreys, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Kazaiah Sterling, Herbie Kane, Jacob Davenport, Ro-Shaun Williams
1999
Trevoh Chalobah, Dujon Sterling, Reece James, Andre Dozzell, Mason Mount, Ben Brereton, Josh Tymon, Jonathan Leko, Reiss Nelson, Japhet Tanganga, Tariq Uwakwe, Elliot Embleton, Luke Bolton, George Hirst, Martell Taylor-Crossdale, Jaden Brown, Ed Francis, Keanen Bennetts, Flynn Downes, Marcus McGuane, Tristan Nydam, Joe Willock, Edward Nketiah, Ellery Balcombe, Ryan Schofield, Dan Kemp, Dennis Adeniran, Sadou Diallo, Tyrese Campbell, Tom Edwards
2000
Ryan Sessegnon, Angel Gomes, Rekeem Harper, Timothy Eyoma, Lewis Gibson, Marc Guehi, Joel Latibeaudiere, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Jonathan Panzo, Jake Vokins, Kane Wilson, Aidan Barlow, Phil Foden, Nya Kirby, George McEachran, Matt O’Riley, Oliver Skipp, Rhian Brewster, Danny Loader, Emile Smith-Rowe, Jadon Sancho, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Steven Sessegnon, Curtis Anderson, Josef Bursik, Morgan Gibbs-White, Taylor Richards, Alex Denny, Reo Griffiths, Conor Gallagher
So here’s 180 footballers who make up the future of English football. 150 are Under 21 players for this season and there’s so much potential development from them over the course of this season and beyond. I’ve included the 1995 born players who are now no longer Under 21’s to show how they are doing. They will still develop and push on too. The future of English football looks very bright indeed as the England youth teams in the summer reflected and hopefully the best is yet to come.
2016/17 Premier League – Released English Players
English Players Released – 14/17 have new clubs – 82.35%
- Michael Kightly – Signed for Southend
- John Terry – Signed for Aston Villa
- Frazier Campbell – Signed for Hull City
- Luke Croll – Signed for Exeter City
- Ezekiel Fryers – Signed for Barnsley
- Conor McAleny – Signed for Fleetwood
- Johan ter Horst – Signed for Maidstone Utd
- Michael Cain – Signed for Whitehawk
- Jack Dunn – Signed for Tranmere Rovers
- Ellis Plummer – Signed for Motherwell
- George Waring – Signed for Tranmere Rovers
- Will Buckley – Signed for Bolton Wanderers
- Carl Lawson
- Joleon Lescott
- Josh Vickers – Signed for Lincoln City
- Jack Rose – Signed for Southampton
- Sam Westley
Under 21’s – 29/41 – 70.73%
- Callum Buckley – Signed for Weymouth
- Jake McCarthy – Signed for Weymouth
- Matt Neale – Signed for Poole Town
- Stefan O’Connor – Signed for Newcastle
- George Green – Signed for Viking
- Christian Hill
- Taofiq Olomowewe – Signed for Maldon & Tiptree
- Richard Pingling
- Corie Andrews
- Ryan King-Elliott – Signed for Greenwich Borough
- Randell Williams – Signed for Watford
- Ben Wynter – Signed for Bromley
- Jack Bainbridge – Signed for Swansea
- Delial Brewster – Signed for Chesterfield
- Michael Donohue – Signed for Fleetwood
- Russell Griffiths – Signed for Motherwell
- Connor Hunt
- Josef Yarney – Signed for Newcastle
- James Yates – Signed for Hull City
- Luke Lofts
- Bradley Maslen-Jones – Spalding Utd
- Brandon Fox – Signed for Tamworth
- Matthew Miles
- Kairo Mitchell
- Tom Brewitt – Signed for Middlesbrough
- Kane Lewis
- Adam Phillips – Signed for Norwich
- Callum Bullock – Signed for Hednesford Town
- Bradley Fewster – Signed for Spennymoor Town
- Junior Mondal
- Josef Wheatley – Signed for Darlington
- Liam Edwards – Signed for Bolton
- Harry Isted – Signed for Luton
- Joel Taylor – Signed for Kidderminster Harriers
- George Brady
- Charlie Bannister – Signed for Kidderminster Harriers
- Callam Jones
- Andre Wright – Signed for Kidderminster Harriers
- Sam Howes – Signed for Watford
- Sam Ford
- Kyle Knoyle – Signed for Swindon
Premier League – 6 Players
Championship – 8 Players
League One – 3 Players
League Two – 5 Players
Non League – 18 Players
Other – 3 Players
Free Agents – 15 Players
These are the 58 English Players who were named as being released on the Premier League Released List which was published back in June. Of these 58 footballers, 43 have found new clubs whilst the rest are free agents. Some will find clubs but some will fall out of the game as time passes.
What’s marked is that of these fifty eight, 33 are either in Non-League or are Free Agents. It’s a hard road when you get released and that doesn’t change season upon season. It’s telling that only 14 footballers are now signed to play in the top 2 divisions of English football. It’s hard to get back in once you’ve been freed.
Having done a few of these lists now, it’s always worse for the Under 21 footballers. More of them have dropped into Non League. This isn’t such a bad thing as the game time they get can still develop them as footballers and with initiatives like the Vardy academy there are pathways back into League football. What it does reflect is how hard it is to make it & whether more players would be better off starting off at clubs lower down the leagues. There are just so many players now at clubs like Man City & Chelsea that I’m still surprised more don’t try their luck elsewhere. The money involved is such a big draw and you can’t blame youngster for trying to live the dream
Next season another big group of English players will be released and they’ll have to fight to find new clubs. It never gets any easier but hopefully some of these players will find their way back up the leagues over time. You never know what can happen in football.
1996 born English Players in the 2017/18 Championship
- Josh Kay
- Brad Ash
- Josh Dacres-Cogley
- Che Adams
- Wes Harding
- Kyle McFarlane
- Connal Trueman
- Liam Edwards
- Zain Westbrooke
- Max O’Leary
- Jojo Wollacott
- Will Miller
- Ibrahim Meite
- Mason Bennett
- Callum Guy
- Charles Vernam
- Offrande Zanzala
- Farrend Rawson
- Greg Olley
- Jarrod Bowen
- Max Clark
- Josh Clackstone
- Callum Burton
- Jonathan Edwards
- Teddy Bishop
- Myles Kenlock
- Nathan McGinley
- Luke Armstrong
- Robbie Tinkler
- Callum Johnson
- Fred Onyedinma
- Christian Mbulu
- Jamie Philpot
- Sid Nelson
- James Maddison
- Ebou Adams
- Tyler Walker
- Conor Hudnott
- Danny Rowe
- Alex Finney
- George Legg
- Robert Dicke
- Jake Eastwood
- Jake Wright
- Jake Bennett
- Ben Whiteman
- Jordan Thorniley
- Rees Greenwood
- Ethan Robson
- Tom Beadling
- Denver Hume
- Harry Burgoyne
Here’s the 1996 born English Players owned by Championship Clubs as of September 2017. This is the final year of these footballers being Under 21 players so it’s getting towards make or break time. Can they become Championship regulars and make their way into the Premier League 25 man Squads by next season? We will come back and see how these players have got on this time next year.
1996 born English Players in the 2017/18 Premier League
- Jordan Lee
- Ben Whitfield
- Cohen Bramall
- Ben Barclay
- Tyler Hornby-Forbes
- Tom Dallison
- Arlen Birch
- Harry Flowers
- Ntumba Massanka
- Bradley Jackson
- Kasey Palmer
- Charlie Colkett
- Ruben Loftus-Cheek
- Mason Holgate
- Calum Dyson
- Brendan Galloway
- Joe Williams
- Fraser Horsfall
- Ben Chilwell
- Demarai Gray
- Josh Debayo
- Connor Wood
- Cameron Brannagan
- Andrew Firth
- Ryan Kent
- Angus Gunn
- Ashley Smith-Brown
- Brandon Barker
- Kean Bryan
- Joe Riley
- Devonte Redmond
- Matthew Willock
- Alex Gilliead
- Ivan Toney
- Jake Hesketh
- Will Wood
- Jake Flannigan
- Marcus Barnes
- Ryan Seager
- Mark Waddington
- Dom Telford
- Dele Alli
- Harry Winks
- Joe Pritchard
- Connor Ogilvie
- Jerome Sinclair
- Randell Williams
- Alex Palmer
- Kyle Howkins
- Reece Burke
This 1996 group has its final season as being Under 21 players in 2017/18 so this is a huge season for these players to make the breakthrough and try and get into the 25 man Squads next season
Obviously the majority of these players won’t make that step up but there are some stand outs like Dele Alli, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ben Chilwell who won’t have any problems. If more than twelve of these players are in the 25 man Squads this time next season then that would be good going as it is difficult to make that step up.
What you would expect from most of these footballers is to have decent football league careers. Many are out on loan in the EFL and many will drop down over the next year but then you also hope that a few will improve from getting playing time and make it back into the Premier League over the course of their careers.
We’ll come back to these players in a year’s time to see how they’ve got on and who’s made it into the Premier League 25 man Squads for the 2018/19 season.
