Euro 2025: England select Lauren James and Michelle Agyemang in squad for Sarina Wiegman’s reigning champions

England are defending the European Championship trophy in Switzerland this summer, but their build-up to the tournament has been disrupted by a number of key players withdrawing from the squad. Mary Earps and Fran Kirby recently announced their retirement, while Millie Bright made herself unavailable for selection due to health issues. The Lionesses begin their campaign against France on July 5.

Wild celebrations as Arsenal lift Women's Champions League trophy - 'Made their own history'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Lauren James has been included in England’s squad for their title defence at this summer’s Women’s European Championship - despite not playing since April due to a hamstring injury.

Sarina Wiegman, who said she was "very happy" with the squad, has also selected exciting young prospect Michelle Agyemang, who stepped up from Under-19 level to score 41 seconds into her senior debut against Belgium in April.

Wiegman called James' selection "not a risk" despite her lack of minutes.

Euro

Spain part ways with head coach Tome, Bermudez named her successor

11/08/2025 at 15:31

"It's not a risk," she said. "She's training really well at her club and she's at the point we hoped she would be at this stage.

"She keeps progressing and hopefully, when she comes into camp, she can go into training with us and keep progressing towards the first game on July 5. We don't see it as a risk, we're just building her."

It has been a turbulent build-up to Wiegman’s squad announcement - with three of her most senior players making themselves unavailable for selection.

First, goalkeeper Mary Earps announced her retirement, before Brighton & Hove Albion’s Fran Kirby followed suit - having been told she would only be included if there were injury problems.

Bright withdrawal 'sad' and 'disappointing'

Chelsea captain Millie Bright then provided a major blow for Wiegman by announcing she would not be considered for selection as she is "not able to give 100% mentally or physically".

Weigman said: "In the last couple of days I found out - we were in conversation. It's sad, it's disappointing. As I said last week, it's not nice and I hope she feels well very soon."

Speaking on recent retirements of Earps and Kirby, she said: "They've done so much for us, so much England, for England football.

"They've been playing the tournaments since I've been here, so it's hard; hard to replace.

"But there are also other players who have done really well and now those players get the opportunity to step up. So you have to move on."

Despite losing considerable names and experience, Wiegman is comfortable with the level of maturity left in the squad: "I do think we have enough experience in the team.

"We have about 16 players who have played at major tournaments. Also with playing at such a high level at clubs that you are experienced with having media around, big crowds, so I don't think that's a problem.

"The experience is enough, they're not all very young. And players coming into their first tournament are so eager too. So I think those dynamics and that balance are pretty good in our team."

With Earps out of the group, Wiegman has chosen three goalkeepers, with Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse selected.

Hannah Hampton

Image credit: Getty Images

Agyemang 'brings something different'

The England boss added that teenager Agyemang will bring "something different" to the squad as she makes her major tournament debut with the Lionesses this summer.

"I think she brings something different. She's really strong up front and we have different qualities with the players we have picked," Wiegman said.

"And what she showed when necessary, so much physicality, and, of course, we all remember her first goal for us against Belgium. I think that's good to have in the team."

As well as dealing with players removing themselves from the squad, Wiegman has had to have difficult conversations with several players who were not selected, such as Missy Bo Kearns, who recently featured in the Nations League camp.

She added: "I'm good. It's part of the job, well, the main part of the job to make decisions, who to select, who to play and things like that, and those hard conversations are not nice because I know what players do, and how hard they try to make the squad."

England are defending champions in Switzerland this summer

Image credit: Getty Images

A 6-0 win against Portugal - in which Aggie Beever-Jones hit a first-half hat-trick at Wembley - lifted spirits, before they crashed out of the Women’s Nations League with a 2-1 defeat to world champions Spain.

Wiegman will be hoping for a smoother lead into the Euros now that her squad has been named.

The Lionesses take on Jamaica in a friendly at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium on June 29 before heading to Switzerland for the start of the tournament.

England will arrive as the reigning champions after their 2022 triumph, when they beat Germany in the final at Wembley, with Chloe Kelly scoring the winner in extra time.

They face a difficult task this time around, with France and Netherlands awaiting in the group stage, as well as home nations rivals Wales.