Myles Lewis-Skelly is set to make his England debut this evening with the Arsenal teenager expected to be named in the side to face Albania.
It marks a meteoric rise for the 18-year-old, who has enjoyed a breakout campaign in North London. Should he appear at Wembley this evening, the left-back will become the 11th youngest debutant in England history.
We’ve remembered the youngest England debutants of all time.
Raheem Sterling – 17 years and 341 days
Raheem Sterling made his first England appearance just under a month before his 18th birthday. The winger was called up to the squad to face Sweden in November 2012, in a fixture that marked the opening of the Friends Arena in Stockholm.
Sterling was one of six debutants in the clash. He debuted alongside Steven Caulker – who scored in the 4-2 defeat – Leon Osman, Ryan Shawcross, Carl Jenkinson and Wilfried Zaha. The latter later switched his international allegiance to Ivory Coast.
Sterling has enjoyed the most memorable England career of that group, scoring 20 goals in 82 caps for the Three Lions. However, Zlatan Ibrahimovic stole the limelight on his England debut with an unforgettable four-goal haul for Sweden.
Iconic Performances: Zlatan stuns England and turns critics into believers
Thurston Rostron – 17 years and 311 days
Thurston Rostron became England’s second-youngest debutant at that time when making his first appearance for the Three Lions against Wales in 1881. It was one of just two appearances the former Darwen and Blackburn Rovers player made, both of which came under the age of 18.
James Prinsep – 17 years and 251 days
James Prinsep held two memorable milestones for over a century.
After making his only England appearance at 17 years and 251 days, he was the Three Lions’ youngest-ever player for almost 124 years before his record was beaten. Prinsep also held the record for the youngest FA Cup final appearance, until Millwall’s Curtis Weston featured aged 17 years 119 days in 2004.
Jude Bellingham – 17 years and 136 days
Jude Bellingham burst onto the scene at Birmingham City, where the fresh-faced 16-year-old became the club’s youngest debutant. After one season in the second tier, he signed for German giants Borussia Dortmund in a £25m deal and saw his development accelerate.
Bellingham made his England debut against the Republic of Ireland in November 2020. He later became the youngest player to feature for the Three Lions at a major tournament, during the European Championship in 2021.
Still just 21, he’s already amassed 40 caps for the national side.
Wayne Rooney – 17 years and 111 days
Wayne Rooney’s exciting emergence remains one of the most memorable in English football history.
At 16, Rooney scored a stunning last-gasp winner against Premier League champions Arsenal to announce his arrival on the big stage. His England debut came in February 2003, as Rooney started in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Australia at Upton Park.
#OnThisDay in 2003, @WayneRooney came off the bench at half-time for his #ThreeLions debut! ✨ pic.twitter.com/9kfesvM3Lx
— England (@England) February 12, 2025
Later that year, he became England’s youngest goalscorer after netting against Macedonia in Euro 2004 qualification. During that tournament, an 18-year-old Rooney scored four goals to earn inclusion in the Team of the Tournament.
Rooney ended his career with 53 goals in 120 caps, the former a record only Harry Kane has since surpassed.
The England XI from Wayne Rooney’s debut against Australia
Theo Walcott – 17 years and 75 days
Sven Goran-Eriksson famously caused a stir when selecting Theo Walcott in his squad for the 2006 World Cup.
The 17-year-old had not played a single minute in the Premier League but was called up ahead of the likes of Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe. Walcott made his debut in a pre-tournament friendly against Hungary to become England’s youngest-ever senior player.
17y 75d – Theo Walcott is the youngest player to play for England, appearing aged 17 years and 75 days in a friendly against Hungary in May 2006. Cub. pic.twitter.com/yVtwsVrbk7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 14, 2019
Though he failed to make an appearance at the World Cup, Walcott went on to enjoy a respectable career with the Three Lions. He scored eight times in 47 appearances, a return that included becoming the youngest-ever England hat-trick scorer against Croatia in 2008.
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