England have named a 21-player squad for the 48-team FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Qatar, which begins at the start of November. The group contains a heavy contingent drawn from Premier League academies, underlining the route those clubs provide to the senior game.

Marc Guéhi, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Phil Foden were among those who started the 2017 final victory over Spain, with the latest crop of youngsters hoping to emulate their success in the coming years. Only four members of Ryan’s 21-player squad do not currently ply their trade for Premier League teams. Lyon forward Alejandro Rodríguez is the only player based outside England, while Louis Page, Dylan Moody and Igor Tyjon represent Leicester City, Southampton and Blackburn Rovers respectively in the Championship.

Manchester City supply more players than any other club. City defenders Dante Headley and Kaden Braithwaite are joined by midfielder Harrison Miles and forward Reigan Heskey, who is identified in the squad as the son of former Liverpool and Villa striker Emile Heskey. Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur provide three players each. Chelsea’s representatives are Landon Emenalo, Reggie Walsh, who has already made his senior debut at club level, and Chizaram Ezenwata. Tottenham’s trio are Jun’ai Byfield, Luca Williams-Barnett and Tynan Thomspon.

Liverpool are the only traditional Big Six club without a player in the travelling party. Arsenal’s sole inclusion is goalkeeper Jack Porter, the 17-year-old who made his Gunners senior debut in the Carabao Cup last season. West Ham United’s Lanre Awesu and Southampton’s Dylan Moody complete the goalkeeping group.

Other Premier League names in the squad include Manchester United’s Bendito Mantato, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Freddie Simmonds, Fulham’s Seth Ridgeon and Aston Villa’s Bradley Burrowes. The list reflects the strength of top-flight youth systems and offers a clear development pathway for those selected.

England have been drawn into Group E for the tournament. Their group-stage schedule begins against Venezuela on Nov. 4, continues with Haiti on Nov. 7 and finishes against Egypt on Nov. 10, with Egypt appearing at the competition for the first time since 1997.

The Premier League currently fields an unusually deep pool of midfield talent, spread across the traditional powers and beyond. Below is a concise assessment of the players outlined in the original draft, concentrating on roles, recent form and defining attributes.

Xavi Simons arrived at Tottenham Hotspur last summer from RB Leipzig and is still adapting to English football. The Netherlands international has shown glimpses of his creative brilliance. A versatile attacking midfielder, Simons excels in small spaces, using a low centre of gravity and a quick turn of pace to influence play around the penalty area.

Martin Ødegaard remains one of the division’s top midfielders despite a dip in stock over the past year due to injuries and questions over his long-term role. The Arsenal captain is often deployed into the wide right space by the system, but he has built a strong relationship with Bukayo Saka. He may be better suited to a traditional attacking midfield role where his playmaking and left foot are most threatening.

Bruno Guimarães has been a model of consistency since joining Newcastle United in 2022. An all-action presence, he combines tackles, accurate diagonals and timely goals with a tireless work rate, forming a central trio with Sandro Tonali and Joelinton.

Martín Zubimendi turned down Liverpool in summer 2024 before joining Arsenal. The Spaniard has adapted quickly, offering defensive midfield control through a blend of ferocity and finesse.

Sandro Tonali returned from a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules and has repaid Newcastle’s faith since early in the 2024–25 season. He contributes goals, tempo, ball carrying and accurate distribution, backed by tenacity.

Dominik Szoboszlai impressed Liverpool supporters with spectacular strikes on arrival but has been noted for his work ethic. Used across midfield and even at right back, he is valued for stamina, clean ball striking and passing range.

Enzo Fernández required time to settle at Chelsea but now matches the expectations of his £107 million transfer fee, offering box-crashing runs and chances from both deeper and more advanced positions.

Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, has been hampered by injuries and missed nearly all of 2024–25. On form he remains one of the best defensive midfielders, a calming, intelligent presence essential to Manchester City.

Bruno Fernandes has been Manchester United’s standout player in recent years, producing double-digit goals and assists in each of his five full seasons at the club with exceptional touch and vision.

Alexis Mac Allister rose to prominence at Brighton & Hove Albion, claimed the World Cup while representing the Seagulls, and has since become Liverpool’s deep-lying playmaker.

Cole Palmer, a Manchester City academy product, emerged at Chelsea as a talisman after a breakthrough debut season in 2023–24 and is described as a generational talent.

Florian Wirtz has had a subdued start since his £116 million move to Liverpool but previously spearheaded Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal double in 2023–24 and is expected to improve.

Ryan Gravenberch was redeployed into a combative defensive midfield role under Arne Slot in 2024–25, playing a key part in Liverpool’s title and winning the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.

Declan Rice, acquired for £105 million, has transformed Arsenal’s midfield. Effective as a holding player and in a box-to-box role, he contributes goals, assists and set-piece delivery and is viewed as a complete midfielder.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was forthright in his assessment after Liam Delap was sent off in the closing stages of the match with Wolverhampton Wanderers, calling the decision both avoidable and damaging to his side. Delap was booked in the 79th minute for twice pushing Yerson Mosquera to the ground and, seven minutes later, was dismissed after leading with his elbow in a challenge with Emmanuel Agbadou that could have resulted in a straight red.

Chelsea have now received five red cards across all competitions this season, a run that has prompted questions about discipline within the squad. Maresca rejected the suggestion his team suffer from an overarching disciplinary problem but made clear he was angry with Delap’s conduct. “We had a very stupid red card that was completely unnecessary and was absolutely deserved,” he said. “We can avoid red cards like these and we have to avoid them.”

The manager underlined that the dismissal was preventable and that he had repeatedly urged restraint. “When it’s a red card like today, it’s embarrassing. There were two yellow cards in seven minutes, both avoidable. It’s no good. After the yellow card, I told [Delap] four or five times to keep calm.”

On Delap’s temperament, Maresca added: “But Liam is a player that when he’s inside the pitch probably he’ll be playing the game for himself and he struggles to realise and to listen around him.” Delap becomes the third Chelsea player to be sent off for two yellow cards this season, joining Malo Gusto and João Pedro. Robert Sánchez and Trevoh Chalobah have been shown straight red cards.

Maresca said his criticism applied across the squad while acknowledging there are differing circumstances behind some dismissals. “[The message is] to everyone,” he said. “I completely understand when there are red cards like Brighton or Man Utd, that is difficult, but red card against Nottingham Forest and red card today, both we can avoid that. And we have to avoid that.”

Delap must serve a one-match suspension and will miss the upcoming weekend meeting with Tottenham Hotspur.