On October 28, 2017, England were crowned U17 World Cup champions for the first time. It was a monumental moment for those adorned in the white of the nation as England endured widespread success and plaudits – and rightfully so. Steve Cooper’s side won all three of their group games in India, before seeing off Japan, United States and Brazil to reach the final against a well-oiled Spain outfit.
It looked as if England would fall at the final hurdle when they fell 2-0 down to Spain in the final. But The Young Lions roared back with delight and eventually prevailed 5-2. A well-drilled, young and hungry outfit made the nation roar once more with a World Cup to their name, but what are they up to now?
Some have gone on to feature under recently-departed England chief Gareth Southgate, some are enjoying loan stints in the English pyramid, while some are struggling to find clubs that will take them – so, it’s fair to say the boys are on quite the spectrum. Somehow, seven years have now passed since their iconic victory in India – but who featured in England’s triumphant squad, and where are they now? Find out all you need to know below…
Goalkeeper: Curtis Anderson
Kendal Town
Anderson has sadly not been able to kick on to further heights after playing a crucial role in England’s U17 World Cup triumph in 2017, but he does find himself still putting his gloves to good use in the North West Counties Premier League with Kendal Town.
He joined Charlotte Independence after leaving Manchester City but was released just five months after. A plethora of clubs were then added to his CV after Wycombe Wanderers picked him up, though he was released by the club without playing a single game for them. The likes of Walton Casuals, Eastbourne, Lancaster City all homed the now 24-year-old before he would finally – hopefully – find his forever home amidst the rolling hills of Cumbria.
Goalkeeper: Josef Bursik
Club Brugge, on loan at Hibernian
Bursik sealed a transfer to Stoke City in the summer of the tournament and booked himself a spot on the plane, though did not manage to get any minutes under his belt once there. After being sent out on loan a handful of times, including to Accrington Stanley and Peterborough United, his best spell in net came at Lincoln City as he became the club’s number one choice when fit, available and raring to go.
Now at Club Brugge in Belgium, the once-promising goalkeeper is yet to stamp his full authority after racking up an unfortunate zero appearances so far. But a loan move over the most recent summer saw him wash up on the shores of Scotland, where he has established himself as a starter.
Goalkeeper: Billy Crellin
Everton, on loan at Accrington Stanley
Cooper’s trust in Anderson meant that Crellin was reduced to just one appearance as England as they ran away as tournament winners. After coming through the ranks at Fleetwood, Crellin then signed for a host of League One and National League clubs, such as FC United of Manchester, Chorley, and Bolton Wanderers.
Everton then signed the youngster for an undisclosed fee in January 2022, though he is yet to feature for the first team, having to rack up minutes for the U21s. Now 24, the Blackpool-born stopper has made just two appearances for the England U20s and is not likely to re-assert himself as a regular for his nation – at any level – any time soon. Although a recent loan switch to Accrington Stanley could do him a world of good.
Defender: Steven Sessegnon
Wigan Athletic
Big things were expected of the youngster and not just because he is the twin brother of Ryan, who is currently at Fulham. Steven played a key part in England’s win, playing five games and notching two assists when it mattered the most: in the final.
The younger brother made 15 appearances for Fulham in the 2019/20 season but struggled in the season following, which led to him joining League One outfit Charlton Athletic on a season-long loan in the summer of 2022. Now somewhat struggling at Wigan Athletic – though with 28 appearances to his name since last year – it’s not unfair to say that he will be unable to mimic the career that his older brother has carved out for himself.
Defender: Timothy Eyoma
Unattached
Rising through the ranks at Tottenham Hotspur, he made his senior bow for the north London-based side in January 2019 against Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup. A year later and he had been shipped off to Lincoln City on a loan basis, though he returned to Spurs thanks to the sport-marring COVID-19 pandemic. Eyoma did, however, join Lincoln permanently back in 2021 following his successful loan spell.
The defender was a regular for a Lincoln side that straddled mid-table in League One and his performances for the England U17s earned him a call-up to the U19 side in late 2018, where he has gone on to feature six times. However, the club announced he would be released following the end of the 2023–24 season.
Defender: Lewis Gibson
Plymouth Argyle
Gibson, now 24, had a tricky time settling in for Everton’s first team and endured a long list of loan spells since 2017 at Fleetwood, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, and Bristol Rovers. Having failed to impress to his full extent at any of the aforementioned clubs, he joined Championship side Plymouth Argyle on a free transfer two summers ago and has claimed one of the centre-back berths as his, playing over 50 games since his move.
Gibson was a regular under Cooper for the England U17s but has had a lesser level of success in the older age groups, racking up three and four appearances for the U18s and U20s, respectively.
Defender: Marc Guéhi
Crystal Palace
Guehi has emerged as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League right now after graduating from Chelsea’s fabled academy set up, Cobham. The 24-year-old, who has been outstanding since signing for Crystal Palace in 2021, made his England debut in March 2022 and has gone to feature an additional 19 times.
A regular at every youth level the national side has to offer, Guehi has been an excellent servant to England. Guehi is not only a fan favourite at Selhurst Park but now also the Three Lions’ best-loved central defender, as his stoic performances throughout Euro 2024 were pivotal to his nation reaching the competition’s final for a second successive time.
Defender: Jonathan Panzo
Nottingham Forest, on loan at Rio Ave
A Chelsea youth export, Panzo plied his trade in France with Monaco and Dijon before returning to English football with Nottingham Forest in January 2023. Initially settling for a reserve side spot in Monaco, he made his senior debut for the French outfit against Lorient.
And while many thought he could become a great asset for the Tricky Trees, he was sent out to Coventry, Cardiff City, and Standard Liege on loan and is now earning his corn, albeit temporarily, at Portuguese outfit, Rio Ave. Cooper was a keen admirer of the London-born defender, handing him his 20 caps in the England U17 set up, and he went on to feature under Aidy Boothroyd at U21s level on five separate occasions.
Defender: Joel Latibeaudiere
Coventry City
Latibeaudiere was given vice-captain duties as he became a vital cog in Cooper’s well-oiled machine out in India, playing every possible minute. Doncaster-born, the former Manchester City prospect joined FC Twente on loan in 2019/20, though his performances were not appealing to Pep Guardiola upon his return to England. As such, he linked back up with Cooper – then manager of Swansea City – in 2020 and became a hardened regular for the Welsh side.
Three years down the line and he was shipped back to England for some minutes at Coventry. Latibeaudiere was called up to the Jamaica national team in May 2022. He made his unofficial debut in a 6–0 friendly defeat to Catalonia on 25 May, and has since made 21 appearances. His switch in allegiance can be considered a shame considering the impact he had on England’s Cooper-led iconic juncture.
Midfielder: George McEachran
Grimsby Town
A former Chelsea youth teamer, McEachran became a perennial winner as, after England’s win in India, he went on to win four extra trophies that campaign. A pair of loan stints at Dutch duo SC Cambuur and MVV Maastricht failed to develop into anything special and McEachran was released by Chelsea in the summer of 2022 after failing to make an appearance.
It took until February 2023 for Swindon Town to register their interest in the free-to-join central midfielder, and he went on to make 55 appearances, notching two assists in that time. It certainly revived his career before he moved on to Grimsby Town this summer, a place where he has continued to be a starter.
Midfielder: Phil Foden
Manchester City
Foden needs no introduction, seeing as he’s the most high-profile member of Cooper’s imperious roster. The midfielder has developed into one of the world’s best attacking midfielders at Manchester City and was named the PFA and Premier League Player of the Season last term.
Having now played 43 times for England, he hasn’t always impressed as much for his nation, as he currently shoulders a run of 15 games without a goal or assist. Still a Manchester City boy through and through, the Stockport-born lad has the world at his feet at club level, though, and is, arguably, one of England’s most creative outlets on his day. Kudos to you, Phil.
Midfielder: Tashan Oakley-Boothe
Estrela da Amadora
Things didn’t really work out for Oakley-Boothe at Spurs, despite rising up the ranks from the U18 side to the U23s before making the permanent switch over to Stoke City. Oakley-Boothe failed to make a single appearance for Stoke’s first team in the 2021/22 season and had to make do with a season-long loan spell at Lincoln, where he became a regular starter.
Now at Portuguese outfit Estrela da Amadora, the 24-year-old midfielder is back struggling for minutes, having accrued just two games since his switch in the summer. For England, Oakley-Boothe never progressed further than the U18 level, where Cooper – again – gave him his first opportunity.
Midfielder: Angel Gomes
Lille
Gomes was highly rated at Manchester United but, despite featuring 10 times in the first team, decided to search for pastures new in 2020. He left for Lille and, after a successful loan spell at Boavista, is now excelling for the French club. He helped them win the Trophee des Champions title in 2021 and has made two appearances shy of a century since.
The glittering youngster was a key cog in Lee Carsley’s England U21s, amassing 18 appearances, being heavily involved in their recent Euros win. He then followed Carsley into the first-team setup when he was given the interim role following Southgate’s departure. Maybe the Red Devils have made a massive error in their judgement here.
Midfielder: Jadon Sancho
Chelsea
Sancho famously – and catastrophically – failed to hit the heights expected of him after making the £73m move to United in 2021 and, at one point, being exiled from using all first team facilities on the back of his public fallout with Erik ten Hag. Concerns grew over his attitude in training, to which Sancho responded by labelling himself as a ‘scapegoat’.
The public feud was never convincingly resolved, as the elusive winger joined Chelsea on a loan-to-join deal over the summer. Promisingly for those who witnessed his sudden rise to fame at Borussia Dortmund, the youngster has rediscovered some of his dazzle, assisting three times in five Premier League games so far.
Midfielder: Nya Kirby
AFC Croydon Athletic
Kirby was usually involved off the bench as England soared to World Cup glory seven years ago, starting just one game throughout the tournament. A youth product from Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace, Kirby upped and left from Blackpool in search of regular senior minutes.
Upon his return to his parent club, Palace, the midfielder faced AFC Bournemouth in a League Cup clash for his debut but was released in the forthcoming summer window, much to his dismay. A loan move to Tranmere Rovers beckoned, though after struggling to impress, Kirby was left club less. He signed for National League side Oxford City two summers ago and, showing signs of not being able to sit still, he moved back home and to AFC Croydon Athletic this past summer.
Midfielder: Callum Hudson-Odoi
Nottingham Forest
One of the more experienced members of Cooper’s triumphant U17 side, Hudson-Odoi had already made his debut in the topflight against Spurs. The winger broke into Chelsea’s first team at a tender age and quickly showed plenty of promise, which led to a lot of clamour around his signature.
His progress did stagnate though, and he was sent on loan to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in 2022. Scoring and assisting just one apiece in Germany, and he was granted with a reunion with Cooper at Nottingham Forest upon his return to west London after a 16-year stint with his boyhood club. Under new manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, the winger has retained his starting spot as the Tricky Trees cascade the top six of the Premier League early into the 2024/25 season.
Midfielder: Emile Smith Rowe
Fulham
After amassing three appearances in total during England’s 2017 triumph, the ex-north London magician had brief periods of luck under now Aston Villa chief Unai Emery, but ultimately struggled to cement a spot in the first team. Saying that, Smith Rowe was fantastic for Arsenal in the 2021/22 season, scoring 11 times in 37 games and, in glimpses, has shown what a great attacking force he can be under Mikel Arteta.
He found game time at the Gunners harder to come by last campaign, though, resulting in his name being thrown into the rumour mill over the summer months, before joining Fulham. He has been a standout player this term, starting all of the Cottagers’ opening eight league games, contributing to three goals from midfield.
Midfielder: Morgan Gibbs-White
Nottingham Forest
Gibbs-White made 88 appearances for Wolves but could never truly establish himself as a regular after making his debut in the 2018/19 campaign. A strong following season on loan at Sheffield United convinced Nottingham Forest to smash their transfer record to sign him, paying a reported £42m for his services.
Since his big-money move, the now 24-year-old has risen to prominence. He recently received a call-up for Carsley’s England setup, and in 37 league appearances last season, he scored five times and assisted for a further 10 as Forest went under a bit of a revamp under Nuno.
Midfielder: Conor Gallagher
Atletico Madrid
After a series of loans, Gallagher made the decision at the start of last season to stay and fight for his place at Chelsea, amid noise that a new venture was a possibility – though they would make a ‘big mistake’ by selling him now, journalist Paul Brown told GIVEMESPORT. Somewhat on his own redemption arc, Gallagher had been a key part of Chelsea’s new era under Mauricio Pochettino.
Nevertheless, upon his manager’s bombshell departure at the end of last term, despite things looking brighter on the west end, Gallagher would then follow in his footsteps as Enzo Maresca judged the midfielder to be surplus to his playing philosophy. Nowadays, the former West Brom and Crystal Palace midfield livewire earns his living in Spain with Atletico Madrid.
Forward: Rhian Brewster
Sheffield United
Brewster upped and left Liverpool to join Sheffield United in a £23.5 million move in 2020, though he did not exactly hit the ground running and is still struggling to this day. In his 80-game Blades career, he has hit the back of the net on just five occasions and set up a teammate for a goal once.
An 18-cap England U21 international, Brewster seemed destined to break into senior proceedings at an accelerating rate, though his below-par domestic return has hindered his chances of a call-up with the big dogs. Still just 24, there’s plenty of time to rejuvenate his career.