England U-16 Discussion Thread #2 [R] (2010 born)

🚨🔵 Manchester City are closing in on one more deal for the Academy: Ethan Fullen set to join from Newcastle U15.

Seen as huge talent, Fullen joins #MCFC with details being sorted.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 29, 2025

Ethan Fullen moving from Newcastle to Man City.

 

Manchester United have reportedly handed wonderkid JJ Gabriel a unique squad number - 95. The 14-year-old has been dubbed as 'Kid Messi'. (Daily Mail)

 

Again no Vincent Joseph for the upcoming German u16 selection (doesn´t have to mean anything ofc), but Dortmund´s Athanasios Grammozis has been selected who I believe played against England for Greece in the Vlatko Markovic Tournament. Can´t say I know too much about the selected players but Bayern´s Linus Ludwig seems like an early stand-out so far; has been Bayern´s best attacking player at the KDB Cup imo.

 

Just like the last few years, this group starts the season with two friendlies against Italy in late August.

 

Looks like Charlton´s Mishel Nduka will join Arsenal. I´ve liked his technical ability from the short clips I´ve seen but if they see him as a 10 this transfer doest make any sense with Dowman. I think he could become an interesting central midfield type of player though and hopefully Arsenal see him in that role too.

 

Kind of relevant for this thread for next season and as of interest if any get called up with names of former players and brothers of players we already know.

Manchester United u16s squad revealed for SuperCupNI coming up this week

A number of familiar names in the squad with the sons of Wayne Rooney (Kai) & Michael Carrick (Jacey)

Also younger brothers of Shola Shoretire (Tunde) & Amir Ibragimov (Gazik)#MUFC #MUAcademy pic.twitter.com/b74idKYLZH

— RedYouthUnited (@RedYouthUnited) July 26, 2025

 

Chelsea have completed deal for the Academy to sign talented attacking midfielder Isaac McGillvary.
One of the most promising talents in the UK at his age, Isaac joins the Chelsea project to further his development.
#CFC delighted with this important youth addition. (Fabrizio Romano)

I think he is a 2010 rather than 2011. The tweet included a picture of him at a U15 camp.

 

The 2010-2012 age groups on paper should be good because those were the 3 years of the baby boom - after 2013 the birth rate dropped slightly and has carried on dropping.. However the previous baby boom didn’t work like that. 2000-2003 was a dip from years before and after and yet some productive age groups.

Frnce’a peak year for births was 2010, Germany’s peak era was 2015 to 2021, Spain nd Italyd’s peak year was 2008.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNOzslAIuGP/?igsh=ZHI0YmFqemhrcW1j

 

Former Liverpool academy coach Barry Lewtas will lead this age group this season.

 

There are reports that Arsenal won’t be letting Chelsea scouts into Hale End this season because of the move

 

Nothing but a race to the bottom. Won't be long until there's a major market for 10 year olds in this country.

 

vs Italy next week

Lucca Benetton (Crystal Palace)
Jake Murray (Chelsea)
Alfie Smith (Birmingham)

Alvin Brown (Aston Villa)
Theo Carrington (Man City)
Shadrach Ekiugbo (Liverpool)
Emmanuel Fejokwu (West Ham)
Josh Henry (Chelsea)
George Jobling (Chelsea)
Chase Kapotwe (Fulham)
Les Yeutembip (Newcastle)

David Eze (Man City)
Jayden Kouossou (Newcastle)
Xavier Parker (Man City)
Reggie Watson (Chelsea)

Joshua Abe (Liverpool)
Zach Benjamin (Sheff Utd)
Jake Doughty (Everton)
Trey Faromo-Adebayo (Chelsea)
JJ Gabriel (Man Utd)
Heze Grimwade (Chelsea)
Oscar Johnson (Aston Villa)
Jonathan Nsangou (Everton)

 

As per his dad, JJ isn't going & will stay with United's 18s who have a game at the same time.

 

JJ Gabriel training with the main team for parts of this season. Is he really that good?

 

Interesting, anything to do with JJ not starting a game for England last season?

 

I doubt it, considering he started multiple games for England last season.

 

Impossible to know until later in the season. I'm more interested in seeing Jobling next week.

 

Goalkeepers: Lucca Benetton (Crystal Palace), Cooper Covington (Bristol City), Alfie Smith (Birmingham City)

Defenders: Alvin Brown (Aston Villa), Theodore Carrington (Manchester City), Shadrach Ekiugbo (Liverpool), Emmanuel Fejokwu (West Ham United), Josh Henry (Chelsea), George Jobling (Chelsea), Chase Kapotwe (Fulham), Aristide Yeutembip (Newcastle United)

Midfielders: Jake Doughty (Everton), David Eze (Manchester City), Hezekiah-Daniel Grimwade (Chelsea), Oscar Johnson (Aston Villa), Olly Lloyd (Aston Villa), Darren Motsi (Leicester City), Xavier Tau Parker (Manchester City), Reggie Watson (Chelsea)

Forwards: Joshua Abe (Liverpool), Zachary Benjamin (Sheffield United), Erinyayo Faromo-Adebayo (Chelsea), Jonathan Nsangou (Everton)

 

Interesting the FA have finally decided to acknowledge the existence of the U16s.

 

So seems as though these were originally called up:
Jake Murray, Jayden Kouossou, JJ Gabriel

Replaced by:
Cooper Covington, Olly Lloyd, Darren Motsi

 

Hopefully these games might be streamed since they are being held in Italy.

 

Italy are streaming the first, not the second.