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England's rising star Michelle Agyemang aims to complete her rapid ascent

England's rising star Michelle Agyemang aims to complete her rapid ascent

1 min ago
Michelle Agyemang has starred for England at the Euros
Michelle Agyemang has excelled for England at the EurosSOPA Images/Profimedia
The reigning champions England narrowly avoided elimination in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals of EURO 2025. Behind these crucial last-minute equalizers is the same youthful face of Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old forward who was loaned to Brighton from Arsenal last season. Here, Flashscore highlights a talent who is advancing through the ranks at an astonishing pace.

Nearly four years ago,Agyemang was an unfamiliar name to Leah Williamson and the other England players.

However, she was already playing a (minor) role alongside her heroes: at the age of 15, the young talent who had progressed through the ranks atArsenal was a ball boy at Wembley, during one of Sarina Wiegman's earliest matches on the Lionesses bench.

"Beth Mead scored a hat-trick that I will always remember. It was an invaluable experience," she told the BBC.

At that time, she likely had no idea that she would be playing alongside the England number nine at the next European Championship.

Agyemang's journey with the Lionesses resembles a fairytale. Born in Essex to Ghanaian parents, she grew up idolizing Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, two stars from Arsenal, a club she joined at the age of six.

By 15, she was already part of Arsenal's Under-21 squad, finishing as the team's top scorer with 19 goals in just 11 matches during the 2022-23 season. That same season, she netted a goal for the first team in an FA Cup fourth-round match against Leeds.

The Arsenal management recognized the gem they had and offered her a professional contract at 17, formalizing it once she turned 18.

The player already labeled as a "clinical striker" was initially loaned to Watford before moving toBrighton the following season, where she scored just three goals in 17 league appearances. However, due to a fortunate turn of events, she found herself included in Sarina Wiegman's squad.

From qualifying for Euro U19 to the big leagues

An international representative for all of the Lionesses' youth teams, Agyemang was called up to the England U19 squad in April for qualifying matches for the European Championship.

However, she had to watch the opening match against Belgium from the stands, as she was serving a suspension. Several first-team members, including Leah Williamson and coach Sarina Wiegman, were at St George's Park observing the match and speaking to the 'punished' player.

In the subsequent match, England U19s triumphed 5-1 in Austria, and Agyemang received a call: Alessia Russo had just been injured with the first team, and Wiegman had placed her trust in Agyemang as the replacement.

Three days later, she celebrated her first cap in a Nations League match against Belgium and scored just 41 seconds after entering the pitch, with her second touch. And what a goal it was: a knee control off a long cross from Leah Williamson, followed by a swiveling volley into the far corner of the net.

Wiegman was understandably thrilled: "That goal was simply remarkable. The composure, the first and second touch. It's wonderful for her to come on and score within a minute."

And the England coach chose to make young Agyemang her 'wildcard' in preparation for Euro 2025. She was supposed to be heading to Poland to lead the U19s' attack but found herself in her first real gathering with the English first team, with one goal in mind: to secure a spot in the 23-player squad heading to Switzerland.

A supersub who poses a threat to Spain

The rest depends on her talent. Limited to the bench for England's three matches prior to the Euros, Agyemang was the unexpected addition to Wiegman's squad.

"She brings something unique to the team," explained the England coach.

"She's only 19, but she's very mature and knows exactly what she needs to do. If she continues like this, she has a very promising future ahead."

After playing only five minutes in the group stages, the striker emerged as the sensation of the Euros, twice rescuing the champions from elimination: scoring the equalizer against Sweden in the quarter-finals just ten minutes after coming on, and then again against Italy in the semi-finals, thirty seconds before the end of normal time.

The story would have been even better had her bending shot in the 117th minute of the semi-final not hit the crossbar.

However, Chloe Kelly's penalty in the 119th minute was sufficient to send England through to a third consecutive major tournament final.

"Mich stepped onto the pitch and made things happen for the team, bringing us back into the game and getting us back on track," Kelly said at a press conference.

"The moment she hit the crossbar gave us renewed energy. She was phenomenal and instilled a lot of confidence in us."

"I'm not surprised to see her performing at this level," added Lucy Bronze, the oldest member of the squad, regarding the youngest player.

"I remember the first time she attended training, and I already knew that this girl was destined to be part of this group.

"She's doing wonders coming off the bench, scoring goals, delivering performances, and working hard."

So much so, in fact, that Wiegman states she is having some difficulty assembling a starting XI, given the performances of the newcomer.

For the time being, the coach prefers to keep Agyemang on the bench, ready to emerge as a savior once more.

"She's very thankful for the minutes she's getting. Her growth and development have been incredibly fast; she went from not being a starter at Brighton to receiving significantly more minutes and showcasing her talent, and then she integrated into our team... I believe she's very comfortable in this role." 

After scoring two goals in her last two matches, the number 17 is now prepared to disrupt Spain's plans.

Follow the 2025 Women's European Championship final here.

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