YOUNG LIONS
ENGLAND’S young lions made history some seven years ago when they lifted the U20 World Cup.
But despite many seeing the youngsters as the future of the England senior team, few have managed to reach the heights that were expected of them.
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Ahead of Euro 2024 this summer, SunSport takes a look at where the squad that beat Venezuela 1-0 in the U20 World Cup final are today.
FREDDIE WOODMAN (Goalkeeper)
Woodman failed to impress at his parent club of Newcastle and after six different loan spells he is now first choice keeper at Preston North End where he kept 10 clean sheets last season.
Premier League appearances: 4
England senior caps: 0
DEAN HENDERSON (Goalkeeper)
Dean Henderson has become a highly regarded Premier League goalkeeper despite failing to make the grade at Manchester United.
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Loan spells with Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest saw him gain experience in the top flight before making a permanent move to Crystal Palace last summer.
The shot-stopper is now part of Gareth Southgate's England squad for the Euros in Germany this summer.
Premier League apps: 85
England senior caps: 1
LUKE SOUTHWOOD (Goalkeeper)
Southwood has spent the last two seasons at League One outfit Cheltenham, but is set to leave as a free agent this summer.
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After being unable to break into the England team the 26-year-old has switched allegiance to Northern Ireland where he has one senior cap.
Premier League apps: 0
England senior caps: 0
Northern Ireland senior caps: 1
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JONJOE KENNY (Defender)
Kenny pushed hard to get a spot in Everton’s starting 11, but was unable to cement his place despite a fair share of appearances and loan spells and was subsequently sold to Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2022.
Premier League apps/goals: 50/0
England senior caps: 0
CALLUM CONNOLLY (Defender/Midfielder)
Connolly struggled to break through to the first team at Everton too, playing just 36 minutes of Premier League football.
He now lines up for Blackpool who he signed for back in 2021, but is set to leave as a free agent this summer.
Premier League apps/goals: 1/0
England senior caps: 0
FIKAYO TOMORI (Defender)
Tomori has had an impressive career since his time with the U20’s, making a big move from Chelsea to AC Milan where he won the league in 2022.
He has five caps for England’s senior team under Gareth Southgate, but failed to make the squad for this summer's Euros.
Premier League apps/goals: 17/1
England senior caps: 5
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JAKE CLARKE-SALTER (Defender)
Clarke-Salter was at Chelsea but now plays in the Championship with QPR where he featured 33 times in the league last term.
Premier League apps/goals: 1/0
England senior caps: 0
KYLE WALKER-PETERS (Defender)
Walker-Peters was unable to impress at Spurs and made the switch to Southampton where he is now a key feature in their squad.
He helped the Saints earn an immediate return to the Premier League through the play-offs last term.
The full-back has been called up to the senior England team twice since.
Premier League apps/goals: 115/2
England senior caps: 2
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DAEL FRY (Defender)
Fry has been with Middlesbrough since the tournament where he has been a crucial member of the team making almost 250 appearances.
Premier League apps/goals: 0/0
England senior caps: 0
EZRI KONSA (Defender)
Konsa is now a vital part of Unai Emery’s overachieving Aston Villa side who have had a spectacular league campaign and booked themselves a spot in the Champions League next season.
His efforts have even earned himself a spot in the England squad for Euro 2024 this summer.
Premier League apps/goals: 163/6
England senior caps: 4
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LEWIS COOK (Midfielder)
Cook captained the England U20’s to victory, but has only ever made one senior appearance for the Three Lions.
He has been a consistent player for Bournemouth since and featured 33 times in the league for the Cherries this season as they shocked fans under Andoni Iraola.
Premier League apps/goals: 136/0
England senior caps: 1
JOSH ONOMAH (Midfielder)
Onomah has been on the books at three Premier League clubs in Fulham, Aston Villa and Tottenham.
But his career never took off as expected and after six months at Preston in 2023, he was released last summer.
He is yet to find a new club after almost a year away from the game.
Premier League apps/goals: 26/0
England senior caps: 0
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AINSLEY MAITLAND-NILES (Midfielder)
Maitland-Niles looked like he would be the future of Arsenal at one point, but failed to stick around during the Arteta revolution.
The 26-year-old has since starred in Europe for Roma and is currently on the books at French outfit Lyon,
He has been featured for the England senior team on five occasions, but his career with the Three Lions now looks to be over.
Premier League apps/goals: 107/1
England senior caps: 5
KIERAN DOWELL (Midfielder)
Dowell now plays in Scotland with Rangers after arriving as a free agent last summer.
The midfielder previously had spells with Norwich, Everton and Nottingham Forest.
Premier League apps/goals: 21/1
England senior caps: 0
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SHEYI OJO (Midfielder)
Ojo left Liverpool for Cardiff City in 2023 and stuggled to hit the ground running for the Bluebirds.
The former rising star was loaned out to Beligian club KV Kortrijk this season and looks set to be a free agent this summer too.
Premier League apps/goals: 8/0
England senior caps: 0
OVIE EJARIA (Midfielder)
Ejaria is was last playing for Reading but was released by the club in January - he is yet to find a new club.
Premier League apps/goals: 2/0
England senior caps: 0
ADAM ARMSTRONG (Forward)
Armstrong cost Southampton £15m from Blackburn back in 2021.
The striker has struggled during his time in the Premier League, but excelled with the Saints in the Championship last term - scoring the winning goal to earn them promotion in the play-off final.
Premier League apps/goals: 68/4
England senior caps: 0
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DOMINIC SOLANKE (Forward)
Only three players scored more Premier League goals than Solanke last season.
The striker bagged 19 times for Bournemouth in his best season as a senior player, but unbelievably missed out on a spot in Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad.
His only senior England cap came in the form of a 15 minute cameo against Brazil in 2017.
Premier League apps/goals: 134/29
England senior caps: 1
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (Forward)
Lookman has become a man transformed since signing for Italian outfit Atalanta following a string of failed spells in England.
The 26-year-old scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final last season as Atalanta beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 to lift the trophy.
Lookman struggled to earn a call up for England's senior team and instead switched his allegiance to Nigeria, where he has made 23 caps and scored six times.
Premier League apps/goals: 96/11
England senior caps: 0
Nigeria senior caps/goals: 23/6
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DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN (Forward)
Calvert-Lewin has been hampered by injuries during his career at Everton, but has still managed to impress when fit.
The Toffees striker has amassed 11 caps for the England senior team, the most successful of the young lions.
Premier League apps/goals: 213/54
England senior caps/goals: 11/4
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HARRISON CHAPMAN (Forward)
Chapman has spent the last two years with Bradford City in League Two but is expected to be a free agent this summer.
Premier League apps/goals: 0/0
England senior caps: 0
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