Liam Bramley’s England Under-18s are set to round off their 2024-25 campaign with a double-header of friendly fixtures against Morocco. The Young Lions will travel to Salé to take on their North African hosts at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, one of the most advanced youth development centres on the continent. This international window will mark the final outing at U18 level for this group, who are due to progress to the U19s set-up next season. It’s a last real test on foreign soil against a Moroccan side brimming with talent and currently sweeping aside most opposition across Africa.
While there’s little at stake in terms of results, England head into the break unbeaten in 2025, a record all the more impressive considering the calibre of their opponents. A 2-2 draw against France was followed by a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Portugal. The squad arrives in Morocco in strong form, with a 20-man group that blends experience with a handful of exciting new faces.
Between the sticks, Jack Austin (Chelsea), Khari Ranson (Arsenal) and Oliver Whatmuff (Manchester City) will be vying for the number one shirt.
In defence, versatile profiles like Wes Okoduwa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) and Samuel Amissah (Fulham) will be eager to make an impression. The midfield will be one to watch, featuring Trey Nyoni (Liverpool) and Sol Sidibe (Stoke City), who made eight appearances in the Championship this season, as well as Harrison Armstrong, who finished the campaign as a regular starter at Derby County while on loan from Everton.
Up front, the attack will be spearheaded by creative threats like Jesse Derry (Crystal Palace), Baylee Dipepa (Southampton) and Josh Sonni-Lambie (Liverpool), all capable of producing a moment of magic in the final third. They’ll be joined by debutants Andre Harriman-Annous (Arsenal) and Nicholas Oyekunle (Southampton), both looking to seize their first taste of international action.
Full England U18 squad for the Morocco fixtures :
Goalkeepers :
Jack Austin (Chelsea), Khari Ranson (Arsenal), Oliver Whatmuff (Manchester City)
Defenders :
Samuel Amissah (Fulham), Jaden Dixon (Stoke City), Andre Garcia (Reading), Airidas Golambeckis (West Ham United), Kian Noble (Manchester City), Wes Okoduwa (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Midfielders :
Harrison Armstrong (Everton), Ollie Harrison (Chelsea), Trey Nyoni (Liverpool), Moses Sesay (Southampton), Sol Sidibe (Stoke City)
Forwards :
Jesse Derry (Crystal Palace), Baylee Dipepa (Southampton), Andre Harriman-Annous (Arsenal), Amin Nabizada (Watford), Nicholas Oyekunle (Southampton), Josh Sonni-Lambie (Liverpool)
