Charlie Cresswell: The Emerging English Defender Making Waves in Ligue 1

Charlie Cresswell, a 22-year-old English central defender, has steadily built his reputation playing abroad in France’s Ligue 1, attracting interest from top Premier League clubs including Liverpool, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Originally from Preston and raised in York, Cresswell’s football journey began at Leeds United, where he joined the youth ranks in 2013. After turning professional in 2019, he debuted in the Carabao Cup in 2020 and accumulated limited Premier League experience with five appearances in the 2021–22 season.

In 2022–23, Cresswell spent a season on loan at Millwall in the Championship, where his commanding 6’3″ presence contributed four goals and two assists across 28 games, helping Millwall finish eighth. Despite expectations to feature prominently for newly relegated Leeds United in 2023–24, he played only seven times before transferring to Toulouse in Ligue 1 last summer. This move proved pivotal as he quickly locked down a starting spot, featuring in 29 of 31 league matches, scoring four goals, providing two assists, and securing nine clean sheets.

His defensive contributions at Toulouse were notable; Cresswell ranked highest for clearances and blocks per 90 minutes among his teammates and ranked in the 87th percentile among Ligue 1 centre backs for clearances. Offensively, he excelled as well, performing in the 99th percentile for shots and shots on target among his positional peers, proving a significant aerial threat on set pieces.

Cresswell’s international involvement includes 26 appearances for England’s Under-21 side, with a role in their victorious campaigns at the past two U21 European Championships. He started every match at the latest tournament, partnering with former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah at the heart of the defense and earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament.

While still early in his career at top-flight senior level, Cresswell’s swift adaptation to Ligue 1 and his proven youth international pedigree make him a promising talent for clubs eyeing defensive reinforcements in this transfer window. His size, defensive acumen, and attacking threat at set pieces highlight him as a valuable asset for any Premier League club willing to invest in emerging English talent.