England U19 kicked off the 2025–26 season with a training camp at the Pinatar Arena in Spain. Three fixtures were on the agenda for the Young Lions, against Ukraine, Spain and the Netherlands. The September camp gave head coach Will Antwi the chance to assess a talented squad and lay the foundations for the upcoming U19 EURO qualifying campaign. With encouraging results and standout individual displays, the break showcased a group brimming with ambition and quality.
A balanced and competitive squad to open the season
Will Antwi named a 23-man squad for the camp, with strong representation across the pitch and a wide spread of clubs – unlike some age groups where the big academies dominate the list. Three goalkeepers were called up: Douglass Lukjanciks (Everton), Nicolas Michalski (Blackburn Rovers) and Arsenal’s Jack Porter, who made his professional debut last season. In defence, promising names such as Christian McFarlane, Kian Noble and Leo Shahar were included, while midfield boasted a highly technical core with Divine Mukasa (Manchester City), Chris Rigg (Sunderland), Sol Sidibé (PSV Eindhoven) and Trey Nyoni (Liverpool) – the latter three already having first-team experience. Rigg has clocked up significant minutes with Sunderland in the Championship, while Sidibé played over 600 senior minutes for Stoke City last term.
The attacking options were particularly eye-catching, with talents such as Max Dowman (Arsenal), Shumaira Mheuka (Chelsea), Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool) and Jay Robinson (Southampton). England played three matches in the space of a week: opening with a 2–0 win over Ukraine on 3 September, following with a thrilling 3–3 draw against Spain on 6 September, before rounding off with a commanding 4–1 victory over the Netherlands on 9 September. These fixtures allowed rotation, gave players valuable minutes and offered the first glimpse of collective patterns ahead of the U19 EURO qualifiers, which begin in November.
Goals, performances and breakout stars
England’s opener against Ukraine was a controlled performance, sealed by an early goal from Divine Mukasa in the 10th minute and a second-half strike from Shumaira Mheuka. Coming off the bench, the Chelsea forward wasted no time making an impact, showcasing both sharpness and killer instinct in front of goal. Defensively, the Young Lions kept their shape and nullified Ukraine’s threat, with a disallowed goal the closest their opponents came. It was the ideal start to the camp, even if the results themselves carried no competitive weight.
The second fixture, against Spain, produced a high-quality attacking contest. England had to come from behind three times, inspired once again by Mheuka, who netted a brace – one from the spot after Max Dowman’s lively play won a penalty. Jay Robinson, already a regular starter with Southampton this season, set up the first goal with a neat assist, while substitute Harrison Armstrong, wearing the armband, grabbed a late equaliser from a Rio Ngumoha cross. Ngumoha, who recently became the fourth-youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, underlined his growing reputation.
The final match, against the Netherlands, was an emphatic statement. Harrison Armstrong struck inside the first minute, before Mheuka added another double, including a coolly-taken penalty. Substitute Sol Sidibé capped off the display with a composed finish in the 68th minute. Although the Dutch pulled one back, England’s balance of defensive discipline and attacking fluency shone through. Mheuka finished the break with five goals in three matches, confirming his status as the squad’s attacking spearhead – and perhaps even edging closer to senior minutes at Chelsea despite fierce competition. Arsenal starlet Max Dowman, meanwhile, didn’t find the net but was instrumental in link-up play and transitions, winning a penalty and consistently troubling defences, all while competing against players two years his senior.
This opening camp of the season has given Will Antwi plenty of positives: a collective framework to build on, plus individual talents ready to break through at the highest level. The Young Lions will reconvene in early November as preparations continue for the U19 EURO qualifiers, with every intention of turning early promise into tangible success.
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