England U18 squad announced for October international break

England U18, now under the guidance of Neil Ryan, are set to face France in a double-header at St. George’s Park. The two fixtures will take place on Thursday 9 October (6pm local time) and Sunday 12 October (2pm local time) at the National Football Centre. This camp forms part of the Young Lions’ preparations for the FIFA U17 World Cup, which kicks off in November in Qatar.

The squad heads into the October break in excellent form, having lifted the Costa De La Luz U18 International Tournament title in September. England recorded three wins from three: a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, a 4-1 triumph against Morocco, and a thrilling 3-2 win over Canada. These performances underline the strength and promise of this exciting generation.

A deep squad with World Cup ambitions

Neil Ryan has named a 27-player squad packed with variety and individual flair. Between the sticks, four goalkeepers will compete for the starting spot, including Owen Asemota (Aston Villa) and Jack Porter (Arsenal). In defence, Wesley Okoduwa (Wolverhampton) returns after his last call-up, joined by Manchester City duo Dante Headley and Kaden Braithwaite. The midfield features technical talents such as Landon Emenalo (Chelsea) and Bendito Mantato (Manchester United), while Reggie Walsh (Chelsea) and Louis Page (Leicester City) bring creativity and control.

England’s attacking line-up looks explosive, with Ryan McAidoo (Manchester City), Reigan Heskey (son of Emile Heskey, also at City), and Alejandro Rodriguez of Olympique Lyonnais all included. Tottenham Hotspur are well represented too, with Jun’ai Byfield, Tynan Thompson and Luca Williams-Barnett showcasing the club’s strong youth development.