England U16 have announced their squad for the December international break, with Barry Lewtas once again leading the group. This time, the Young Lions will remain on home soil, with two friendly fixtures scheduled against the Netherlands at the national football centre, St. George’s Park. The two 80-minute matches will take place on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 December, providing another key assessment point for a generation still very much under construction.
A promising group blending continuity and emergence
Barry Lewtas has selected a 22-man squad drawn from the country’s leading academies, combining established performers with fresh faces set to experience the international environment. One of the standout names is Emerson Nwaneri (Arsenal), a highly precocious midfielder who continues his rapid rise after already featuring in the UEFA Youth League with the Gunners’ U19s. He is also the younger brother of Ethan Nwaneri, an Arsenal player and an important figure within England’s U21 setup.
Alongside him, Mishel Nduka and goalkeeper Charlie Phillips complete a much-talked-about Arsenal trio, all of whom have previously been involved with England at U15 level. Phillips, just 15 years old, recently featured in a friendly for Arsenal’s U21 side, underlining the level of trust placed in him by his club.
Another player to keep a close eye on is Zac Christie (AFC Bournemouth). The 15-year-old midfielder, who has been at the club since U9 level, is enjoying a meteoric rise. Now one of the youngest players to feature for the Cherries’ Development Squad, he has already played several competitive matches above his age group. His call-up rewards an exemplary pathway and a maturity recognised both by his club and the FA, following in the footsteps of his father Malcolm Christie, a former England U21 international. He also reflects the strong work being done at the Dorset club, which saw Alex Scott earn a senior England call-up last November.
In attack, Vincent Joseph (Liverpool) continues his journey with England. The dual-national forward, who is also eligible to represent Germany, remains firmly on the radar of the England coaching staff and further cements his status as one of the most exciting attacking prospects of his age group.
Full squad list
Goalkeepers:
Cooper Eric Covington (Bristol City)
Jack Peter Hames (Leicester City)
Mikel Jack (Tottenham Hotspur)
Charlie Phillips (Arsenal)
Defenders:
Joseph Deighton (Manchester United)
Shadrach Ekiugbo (Liverpool)
George Jobling (Chelsea)
Chase Kapotwe (Fulham)
Cyril Lartey (West Bromwich Albion)
Bobby Martin (Southampton)
Thomas McDermott (Chelsea)
Rory Sykens (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Midfielders:
Zac Christie (AFC Bournemouth)
Muawiya Ghanem (Newcastle United)
Olly Lloyd (Aston Villa)
Mishel Nduka (Arsenal)
Emerson Nwaneri (Arsenal)
Kwasi Senyah (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Oluwatitojumi Wellspring (Tottenham Hotspur)
Forwards:
Mylo Bernard (Crystal Palace)
Joshua Blake (Aston Villa)
Oscar Johnson (Aston Villa)
Vincent Joseph (Liverpool)
Heaven Kilwa (Aston Villa)
