ENGLAND SQUAD: Bright returns while Beever-Jones gets first senior call-up | OneFootball

Chelsea defender Millie Bright will return to the England squad for the nation’s upcoming UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualifying double-header against France and for the games against The Republic of Ireland and Sweden.

The Football Association announced England head coach Sarina Wiegman’s 24-player squad selection this morning.

Chelsea defender Bright is the notable inclusion in the squad following her return from injury while club teammate Aggie Beever-Jones has also received a first call-up.

In other news, Southampton’s Kayla Rendell, Manchester United’s Maya Le Tissier, Liverpool’s Missy Bo Kearns and Tottenham Hotspur’s Jess Naz have all been named on a four-player standby list.

After announcing her latest squad, England head coach Wiegman said “This is another important summer for us to achieve our goal of qualifying for the EUROs.

“After an intense season, we wanted to give the players clarity and help them to prepare for the FIFA windows in the best possible way, with the balance of performance and welfare as a priority. We have had good conversations with the clubs, and we are grateful for their co-operation and support in helping the players to be fresh, fit and ready for two international matches on the highest level.

“Naming a player group of 28 provides us with different options across the four fixtures and is an opportunity for some new faces to impress and build new connections.

“We’re really excited to get going again. The group is finely balanced and we know that every game is going to be tight and we’ll need to be at our best. France are an opposition we haven’t yet faced together so I’m looking forward to that challenge of playing one of the best teams in the world.”

England face France at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park in the third match of their qualifying campaign on Friday 31 May 2024, before travelling to Saint-Étienne to contest the reverse fixture on Tuesday 4 June 2024. The Lionesses will then face the Republic of Ireland at Norwich City’s Carrow Road on Friday 12 July 2024 before travelling to Sweden on Tuesday 16 July 2024 for the final game of qualifying.

England Squad

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Kayla Rendell (Southampton)*

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (FC Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Maya Le Tisser (Manchester United)* Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Millie Turner (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Tottenham Hotspur – On loan from Manchester United), Missy Bo Kearns (Liverpool)*, Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (FC Barcelona).

Forwards: Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Jess Naz (Tottenham Hotspur)*, Alessia Russo (Arsenal)

*On standby