Who is Michelle Agyemang? The Lionesses supersub who has given Arsenal a big dilemma | OneFootball

Teenager has been one of the breakout stars at Euro 2025 and now has Spain in her sights

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Agyemang has been celebrating in Switzerland - and who can blame her for letting go after her goals for England in their quarter-final and semi-final?

Both times, the 19-year-old Arsenal forward scored the goal that kept England in the tournament - and even if she wanted to stay cool, her team-mates mobbing her made that impossible.

Agyemang scored in the 96th minute against Italy to take the semi-final to extra time

Getty Images

Agyemang, who was a ballgirl for Sarina Wiegman’s third game in charge of England, has enjoyed a remarkable rise.

It was only in April that she made her England debut, scoring against Belgium just 41 seconds after coming off the bench.

Wiegman duly called her up for the next camp and, such was Agyemang’s surprise, she initially thought it was a prank.

Weeks later when she learned she was in the squad for the Euros, her dad ran around the house celebrating wildly.

Agyemang may not take after her father when it comes to celebrating, but his influence, and that of her wider family, has shaped her personality.

The family are big football fans. Agyemang’s sister is a West Ham fan, her brother a Chelsea supporter, while her dad follows Manchester United.

Agyemang chose Arsenal as a child, drawn by their role in driving the women’s game forward. But when she plays, club allegiances fall away and the family are united in cheering her on.

Agyemang is pushing for a start against Spain in the Euro 2025 final on Sunday

The FA via Getty Images

When Agyemang signed her first professional contract with Arsenal in May 2024, the whole family were at the signing of the deal.

Those at Arsenal describe Agyemang as a humble and polite individual - just like her parents - and as someone driven on and off the pitch.

Two seasons ago, when Arsenal were away on a Champions League trip, a member of staff walked into the team hotel’s dining room to find Agyemang doing A-Level coursework before dinner.

She has continued her education, playing football alongside studying Business Management at King’s College London.

Agyemang has a flair for music, too. She plays the bass, drums, guitar and piano, with the latter transported to Switzerland so she could practice in her spare time.

Her England team-mates describe her as “an old soul”, but on the pitch it is a different story.

Lionesses captain Leah Williamson can recall Agyemang “flattening” her in one of their first training sessions together and she has not been afraid to make her presence known.

“She’s a really sweet girl,” says Lucy Bronze. “She’s so unassuming as a person, but then on the pitch she’s probably one of my favourite ones to play against because I can just run into her dead hard.

Agyemang celebrates after the Lionesses booked a spot in the final

PA Wire

“She likes to give it back. She’s been told that she needs to go a little bit easier, but I said: ‘No, just keep it up Micha, I prefer it, I want you to give everything, it makes it harder for us.’”

Agyemang said she had “fire in the belly” before Euro 2025 and that is in keeping with how those at Arsenal describe her. She joined the club’s academy when she was six and has been hungry to progress ever since.

Agyemang made her debut for the Gunners when she was 16 and regularly trained with the first team before then, with coaches at the club convinced she was destined for the top.

Physically, she excelled at youth level, but her finishing also impressed. She scored 19 goals in 11 games for the Arsenal Under-21 side in the 2022-23 season.

Coaches at Arsenal like working with Agyemang because she is inquisitive and asks questions about her own game. She adapts well to different environments, previously training with the first team before dropping down to play for the Under-21s.

Arsenal also received glowing reports from Agyemang’s loan spells at Brighton and Watford, with staff there impressed by her work ethic.

Arsenal face a big decision over what to do with Agyemang next season

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Her game has improved since those loans, particularly her movement off the ball and ability at making runs in behind opposition defences.

There is now a huge sense of intrigue as to what happens next season. Agyemang is in the rare position of having an international career that has taken off before her club one.

She has played just six times for Arsenal and there is huge competition in their attack right now.

Alessia Russo and Stina Blackstenius are the two Arsenal strikers, while the Gunners also have Beth Mead, Caitlin Foord, Chloe Kelly and Olivia Smith as wide forward options.

That may limit Agyemang’s minutes, and so a loan move could best serve her development.

Several WSL sides are understood to be monitoring the situation, with clubs waiting to hear what Arsenal decide to do.

A season of regular football could help Agyemang’s growth and she may find that in a year’s time, the path to the Arsenal first team is clearer. By that point, Blackstenius, Foord and Mead will all be 30 or older.

For now, though, Agyemang is focused on Sunday and helping England make history. She has enjoyed a dream tournament, but one wonders if there could be a fairytale ending.

Born in Essex to Ghanaian parents, Agyemang’s surname literally translates to “saviour of the nation”.

She has been exactly that for England at this Euros. Can she do it one more time against Spain?