Which of England’s U21 stars could break in the senior squad for EURO 2024?

England’s U21s were sensational at the Euros in Georgia this summer, ending the country’s 39 year wait for a European U21 Championship.

A 1-0 victory over Spain in the final courtesy of some late goalkeeping heroics was enough to secure the trophy and end the tournament on top having not conceded a single goal over the course of their six matches.

It was an astonishing performance from start to finish from Lee Carsley’s side and further evidence that England’s academies are flourishing. The tournament victory is the fifth in six years for an England youth side with the U19s winning the Euros in 2017 and 2022 and the U17s and U20s matching that success with World Cup wins in 2017. Several members of the squad have already made a name for themselves in the Premier League but there will be several who will be hoping the Under-21 European Championships will act as a platform to propel them onto greater things in the senior game. Here’s a look at some of the class of 2023 who could earn a place in Gareth Southgate’s England Euro 2024 squad next summer.

James Trafford

If you needed any convincing of this young goalkeeper’s ability then look no further than the late double save in the dying seconds of the final against Spain, saving the last-minute penalty attempt before following up with another astounding stop of the rebound, that ultimately earned England the win and the trophy. The viral moment understandably thrust Trafford into the spotlight but it is his performances throughout the tournament that Premier League managers will be taking more note of. England did not concede a single goal in over 540 minutes of tournament football, when was the last time you could say that? The Manchester City goalkeeper was immense in between the sticks and rumour is that Burnley manager Vincent Kompany is eyeing up a potential transfer for the young shot-stopper after the successful Euro campaign and an excellent season on loan at League One outfit Bolton Wanderers. It would certainly be a jump up for Trafford but he has proven this summer that he is capable of handling the big occasion and with invaluable Premier League experience under his belt, he could be a great backup to take along to Germany in 2024.

Morgan Gibbs-White

According to UK-licensed betting sites, England’s senior side are 11/2 to win the Euros in Germany next year, and they could rely on some of the stars from the U21s that just won in Georgia. One such star was Gibbs-White who enjoyed a very successful tournament as one of England’s standout players. He displayed maturity beyond his years with some highly intelligent play, knowing when to move the ball, making the most of opportunities in attack and knowing the right time to drop back too. His versatility was also on display as Carsley made full use of the 23-year-old’s ability to play in both centre forward and midfield roles. Perhaps more significantly than the European win though is his excellent first season at Nottingham Forest. Since joining Forest in the summer of 2022, the £40 million signing has been a hit, helping the club maintain its Premier League status with five goals and eight assists. His performances stood out in an erratic side that struggled for consistency throughout the campaign but he will have to back it up with another good year next season amidst some stiff competition for places in the England midfield. Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson and Jude Bellingham are just some of the names he will have to contend with to get on a flight to Germany but his Premier League experience to date gives him an advantage over most of his U21 teammates and there is still an opportunity there with players like Kalvin Phillips struggling for game time at Manchester City.

Anthony Gordon

Anthony Gordon is already an established Premier League player having made 16 appearances in a stellar Newcastle side last season but his performance in Georgia confirmed him as a star in the making. The winger was justifiably named Player of the Tournament, becoming the first England player since Mark Hateley in 1984 to achieve the feat. He scored two goals and made one assist over the course of the championship but his ability to play out wide as well as centre forward is what really impressed. His attacking play was second to none in Georgia and he is almost guaranteed to improve on his one goal for Newcastle last season if given the opportunity in Eddie Howe’s side. In fact, Howe would be wise to utilize his talents given how many more games the Tyneside club will have this season courtesy of their European adventure. While he faces some daunting competition to break into the senior England squad from the likes of Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish, most of the previous Players of the Tournament have gone on to represent their national side and it would come as no surprise if the same was true of Gordon in the coming months.

Levi Colwill

All good defensive performances are built off of a solid showing from your centre back pairing and Colwill delivered on his end time and time again for Carsley in Georgia. The 20-year-old was excellent over the course of the six game tournament, snuffing out any sense of danger and proving to be the rock at the heart of England’s impenetrable defence. He was comfortable in possession, powerful in a challenge and also demonstrated his ability to pick the perfect pass to split open defences. After a successful loan spell at Brighton was backed up with this remarkable showing in the summer, he has made his intentions clear that he wants game time. Southgate will be keen to see him get some too as his options are limited at centre back with Conor Coady dropping to the championship and his two regulars of Harry Maguire and Eric Dier both struggling for form. It is uncertain whether Chelsea with provide him with it given the unknown intentions of new manager Mauricio Pochettino, even though the Argentinian has a history of developing younger talents. Either way there will be a number of suitors bidding to attain his services this transfer window and if he is afforded some more appearances next season then Gareth Southgate may have a new defensive star on his hands.