At the weekend, the England Under-21s were crowned European champions after beating Spain in the Final.

In total, 19 of the 23 players in Lee Carsley’s squad have come through and EFL Academy (including teams who are no longer EFL but were EFL when the player was in the Academy) loan spells at an EFL Club or currently at an EFL Club.

In addition, 22 current EFL Clubs have played a part in the development of at least one player in the squad.

Take a look at where their journeys began in the EFL…

James Trafford

Penalty-saving stopper James Trafford lifted the EFL Trophy with Bolton Wanderers during the 2022/23 campaign on a season-long loan from Manchester City. The 20-year-old, who spent time in Carlisle United’s Academy, made over 70 appearances for the Trotters across two stints in League One, having also spent time on loan at Accrington Stanley.

Josh Griffiths

After coming through the ranks at West Bromwich Albion, Josh Griffiths added a promotion to his CV with Cheltenham Town in 2020/21, helping the Robins to seal the League Two title. He was named as the Club’s Young Player of the Season, before heading out to Lincoln City and Portsmouth. In February, Griffiths made his Championship debut for the Baggies.

Carl Rushworth

Brighton and Hove Albion loanee Carl Rushworth spent last term on loan at Lincoln City in League One, featuring over 40 times as he established himself as the Imps’ first choice between the sticks. The 22-year-old made the step up following a successful stint in League Two with Walsall in 2021/22.

Max Aarons

Max Aarons caught the eye of Norwich City while in Luton Town’s youth setup and went on to break into the senior fold. The defender made his bow for the Canaries in a 3-1 win over Stevenage in the Carabao Cup in August 2018 and has since become a regular in the side. He helped Norwich win promotion back to the top-flight in 2018/19 and again in 2020/21.

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Luke Thomas 

Like many of his international teammates, Luke Thomas’ first involvement for Leicester City came in the EFL Trophy. He made his debut against Rochdale in November 2018 and made a handful of further appearances in the competition the following season, impressing the Foxes enough to earn his Premier League debut.

Levi Colwill 

Back in September 2019, Levi Colwill pulled on a Chelsea shirt for the first time against Bristol Rovers for the Blues’ Under-21s side in the EFL Trophy. A loan move to Huddersfield Town in 2021/22 followed when the Terriers reached the Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis 

A series of loan moves in the Championship helped to further Three Lions skipper Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ development. The Stockport-born defender has spent time with Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and Burnley. Last season, he helped the Clarets achieve promotion at the first time of asking, playing his part as Vincent Kompany’s side were crowned champions.

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Jarrad Branthwaite 

Carlisle Academy graduate Jarrad Branthwaite was handed his debut for the Cumbrians in the EFL Trophy – the competition in which he scored his first goal against Morecambe – in September 2019, before being rewarded with his full debut in League Two. Since linking up with Everton, the 21-year-old had a stint with Blackburn in the Championship.

Charlie Cresswell

In September 2020, Charlie Creswell was named in the starting XI for Leeds United’s 1-1 draw against Hull City in the Carabao Cup. Creswell also turned out for the Whites’ Under-21s in the EFL Trophy that same season. The 20-year-old spent last season out on loan with Millwall in the Championship.

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Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson first appeared for West Ham United’s Under-21s in the 2017/18 EFL Trophy, completing the full 90 minutes as the Hammers beat Bristol Rovers 3-1 on his debut. Johnson featured regularly in the competition as he impressed enough to earn his Premier League bow 

Oliver Skipp 

Recognised as one of Norwich City’s star performers as the Canaries won promotion from the Championship in 2020/21 while on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, Oliver Skipp made his mark in the EFL. In October 2018, the midfielder made his Spurs debut in a 3-1 win over West Ham to advance in the Carabao Cup and hasn’t looked back.

Morgan Gibbs-White

Having risen through the ranks at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Morgan Gibbs-White built up to his Championship debut with the Club against Wigan Athletic in February 2017, having gained experience with the Under-21s in the EFL Trophy. He was loaned out to Swansea City and Sheffield United in 2021/22 as he helped the Blades book their spot in the Play-Offs.

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Jacob Ramsey

Jacob Ramsey came off the bench for his Aston Villa debut in the Championship in February 2019 before being loaned out to Doncaster Rovers in 2019/20. He scored three goals in seven outings in League One, setting him up for his full debut for the Villains in the Carabao Cup against Burton Albon. 

James Garner 

While on the books of Manchester United, James Garner turned out for the Under-21s in the EFL Trophy before embarking on loans with Watford and Nottingham Forest in the Championship. Most notably, the 22-year-old was a part of the Forest side that won promotion back to the top-flight in 2021/22 in the Play-Off Final.

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Curtis Jones

Curtis Jones was involved in both the EFL Trophy and Carabao Cup in 2019/20 for Liverpool as the 22-year-old flirted with the senior squad. The midfielder played his part as the Reds lifted the Carabao Cup in 2022, playing a handful of games in the earlier rounds before laying claim to the silverware. 

Tommy Doyle

Tommy Doyle’s Manchester City debut came in a 4-2 win over Rochdale in the EFL Trophy in January 2019. He followed it up with loans in the Championship with Cardiff City in the second half of the 2021/22 season and Sheffield United last term when the Blades secured automatic promotion, finishing as runners-up.

Harvey Elliott

Aged 15, Harvey Elliott became Fulham’s youngest-ever player to feature in the Carabao Cup, making his debut away to Millwall. The following year, he became the youngest player to start a match for Liverpool in the same competition. He was also named the EFL’s Young Player of the Season in 2021 during a season-long loan with Blackburn Rovers.

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Cole Palmer

After clocking two appearances for Manchester City Under-21s in the EFL Trophy in 2019, Cole Palmer started against Burnley in a 3-0 win in the Carabao Cup. He scored his first goal for the Sky Blues against Scunthorpe United in the Trophy, before netting against Wycombe Wanderers in the Cup.

Angel Gomes

Alongside occasional appearances for Manchester United’s first team, Angel Gomes supplemented his experience with the senior side by getting minutes under his belt in the EFL Trophy against the likes of Rotherham United and Tranmere Rovers. He also appeared as a substitute in the Manchester derby in the Carabao Cup.

Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke joined Crystal Palace’s Academy as a nine-year-old, spending three years on the then-Championship Club’s books before moving on to Tottenham Hotspur. After spending some time in the Eredivisie, he joined Chelsea in the January 2023 transfer window.

Cameron Archer

An in-form Cameron Archer netted 10 goals in six appearances across the Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy in 2021/22, bagging a hat-trick against Barrow to kick off the campaign. He was the Trophy’s top scorer before testing himself in the Championship with Preston North End and Middlesbrough, hitting double figures last season for promotion chasing Boro. 

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Emile Smith Rowe 

After scoring on his debut for Arsenal Under-21s against Coventry City in the EFL Trophy, Emile Smith Rowe rippled the net at the Emirates with the match-winner against Blackpool in the Carabao Cup in October 2018. The attacker joined Huddersfield on loan in January 2020 as he helped the Terriers to preserve their Championship status.

Anthony Gordon 

Before being named the Euro Under-21 Player of the Tournament, Anthony Gordon started out in the EFL Trophy, making his full debut against Oldham Athletic. In February 2021, the 22-year-old signed for Preston on loan until the end of the campaign, making his debut against Rotherham in the Championship.

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