Rui Jorge announces Portugal’s squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship | OneFootball

U21 coach Rui Jorge today named the 26 players who will represent Portugal at the 2025 U21 Euro, held in Slovakia from 11-28 June.

Sporting winger Geovany Quenda, who has been regularly called up to the senior squad in recent months, will play in the tournament, and Braga starlet Roger Fernandes makes his debut for the Seleção after the Guinea-Bissau born forward recently completed his naturalisation process.

Another notable call-up is Benfica goalkeeper Samuel Soares, who will play in the tournament instead of the Club World Cup, upon request from Jorge. “Benfica accepted the possibility of releasing Samuel for the tournament, and that was also what the player wanted,” explained Jorge.

Quenda’s selection comes just a couple of days after he was somewhat surprising omitted from the senior Seleção squad by Roberto Martínez, but Jorge is not worried about how he will react to what could be viewed as taking a step backwards.

“The fact Quenda has been in the senior squad shows his quality,” said the experienced coach. “I believe he’d prefer to be in the main squad, which is what I want all my players to think and to strive for.

“But representing our country has to be done with the maximum enthusiasm and passion, whatever level it is. I only want players with this feeling. I believe Quenda feels it and will show it.”

Despite their proud history at all youth levels, Portugal have never won an U21 European Championship. Although the squad may not have as many star names as in previous years, Jorge appears to have a healthy mix of players to work with.

Several have an abundance of elite-level football experience in a variety of contexts such as Eduardo Quaresma (Sporting), Mateus Fernandes (Southampton), Paulo Bernardo (Celtic) and Fábio Silva (Las Palmas), who will be complemented by a handful of standout talents, not least Quenda, Roger Fernandes and Gustavo Sá.

In the group stage Portugal play France (11 June), Georgia (14 June) and Poland (17).

Portugal’s U21 Euro 2025 squad

Goalkeepers: Diogo Pinto (Sporting), João Carvalho (Braga), Samuel Soares (Benfica)

Defenders: Chico Lamba (Arouca), Christian Marques (Yverdon), Eduardo Quaresma (Sporting), Flávio Nazinho (Cercle Brugge), Francisco Chissumba (Braga), João Muniz (Sporting), Lourenço Henriques (Varzim), Rafael Rodrigues (AVS), Rodrigo Pinheiro (Famalicão)

Midfielders: Diogo Nascimento (Vizela), Gustavo Sá (Famalicão), João Marques (Gil Vicente), Mateus Fernandes (Southampton), Mathias de Amorim (Famalicão), Paulo Bernardo (Celtic)