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Published : 23 May 2025, 06:31 PM
Striker Ivan Toney has earned a recall to the England squad after an impressive season with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, while Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah could make his senior debut after being selected by coach Thomas Tuchel on Friday.
There was no place for Arsenal full-back Ben White or West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen as Tuchel named a 26-man squad for the World Cup qualifier against Andorra on Jun 7 and a friendly three days later against Senegal.
No current player from either Manchester City or Manchester United made the list. City's Phil Foden asked not to be considered, while United’s Harry Maguire was omitted.
United's Marcus Rashford, currently on loan at Aston Villa, was also left out. However, AC Milan loanee Kyle Walker – still officially a Manchester City player after requesting a transfer in January – was included.
Ajax midfielder and former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson retained his place, while Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold were all named in a Tuchel squad for the first time.
The inclusion of 29-year-old Toney was the main talking point. The former Brentford striker last featured in an England squad in 2024.
Banned for eight months in 2023 for breaching the FA’s betting regulations, Toney left Brentford for Al-Ahli last summer and has since scored 22 goals in 29 league appearances.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals in the Saudi Pro League this season, with Toney outperforming the likes of Karim Benzema and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“We saw goals – decisive goals and the big title,” Tuchel said of Toney’s season. “He had a massive contribution to the Asian Champions League title for his club.
“I didn’t have the opportunity until today to see him live in Saudi Arabia, so we took the opportunity to fly him in to our camp to watch him live within the group and see his personality and see his quality.”
Chalobah spent part of the season on loan at Crystal Palace but was recalled by Chelsea in January.
“Trevoh has stepped up massively since he came back to Chelsea,” Tuchel said. “Since the last camp – even before – he was already on our radar, but in recent months he’s had a major impact during Chelsea’s run.
“They’re still fighting for the Champions League, and he’s been one of their most consistent and best defenders, so we think he deserves the call-up and maybe his first cap.
“At the moment, Trevoh is a little bit ahead of Harry [Maguire].”
When asked about his selections, Tuchel said Henderson “takes care of all the standards in the group”, while “it was not the moment” for White, who is soon to become a father.
He also said Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton would benefit more from becoming a “leader” in the under-21 squad.
England sit top of Group K after Tuchel began his reign in March with home wins over Albania (2–0) and Latvia (3–0). They face Andorra away in Barcelona before meeting Senegal in a friendly at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.
While Andorra are ranked 173rd by FIFA, 19th-placed Senegal are expected to provide a sterner challenge.
“It will be a nice occasion because Senegal are a strong team, high up in the international ranking, so it will be a good test and a necessary test,” said Tuchel.
“This is maybe the last chance to integrate more players and see more players in our environment – to see how they behave and what quality they can bring.”
England squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Burnley)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, on loan from Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
