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Where Are England's 2017 U17 World Cup Winners Now?

Back on October 28, 2017, England captured the U17 World Cup title for the first time. Steve Cooper’s squad dominated the group stage in India with three wins and advanced past Japan, the United States, and Brazil to face Spain in the final. Despite trailing 2-0 early on, the Young Lions staged a remarkable comeback to win 5-2 and bring home the trophy.

Nearly nine years later, the paths of these players have diverged significantly. Some have reached senior levels, others are carving out careers in lower leagues or abroad, and a few have stepped away from football altogether.

Goalkeepers

  • Curtis Anderson: Once crucial to the 2017 victory, Anderson’s career stalled after leaving Manchester City. Short spells at clubs like Charlotte Independence and Wycombe Wanderers followed, but no sustained breakthrough came. He retired at 23 in 2023 to become a financial advisor.
  • Josef Bursik: Signed by Stoke City just before the tournament, Bursik struggled for game time and was loaned out multiple times, with his best stint at Lincoln City. After a move to Club Brugge in 2023 with no appearances, he joined Portsmouth in 2025 and currently plays on loan at AFC Wimbledon during the 2026/27 season.
  • Billy Crellin: Limited to one appearance in the 2017 squad, Crellin climbed through Fleetwood Town’s ranks before joining several League One and National League teams. In 2022, Everton signed him, but he never broke into the first team. Now 26, he plays for Glentoran in Northern Ireland.

Defenders

  • Steven Sessegnon: Twin brother of Ryan Sessegnon, Steven contributed five games and two assists in the 2017 tournament. After 15 Fulham appearances in 2019/20, he struggled the following season and moved on loan to Charlton Athletic in 2022. Currently, he plays for AFC Wimbledon in League One, falling short of his brother’s career heights.
  • Timothy Eyoma: A Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate, Eyoma made his senior debut in January 2019 but spent time on loan at Lincoln City. After a permanent move there in 2021 and six England U19 caps, he was released following the 2023/24 season. He now competes with Lommel SK in Belgium’s top division.
  • Lewis Gibson: Gibson’s journey involved many loans from Everton to Fleetwood, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, and Bristol Rovers. He eventually joined Plymouth Argyle on a free transfer, making 63 appearances before moving to Preston North End, where he is a regular defender in the Championship.
  • Marc Guehi: Graduating from Chelsea’s academy, Guehi has emerged as a leading Premier League centre-back. At 26, he plays for Manchester City and earned his England senior debut in 2022, accumulating over 40 caps. In October 2024, he became the first Crystal Palace player to reach 20 England caps while at the club. His performances were key for England at Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup.
  • Jonathan Panzo: After developing at Chelsea, Panzo played in France with Monaco and Dijon before joining Nottingham Forest in 2023. Loan spells included Coventry, Cardiff, and Standard Liege. He earned 20 caps with England U17s and featured five times for the U21s. Currently, he plays for Levadiakos F.C. in Greece.
  • Joel Latibeaudiere: As vice-captain in 2017, Latibeaudiere played every minute of the tournament. After a loan to FC Twente, he failed to impress at Manchester City and linked up with Steve Cooper at Swansea City. Now at Coventry City, he switched international allegiance to Jamaica, earning 34 appearances since May 2022.

Midfielder

  • George McEachran: A former Chelsea youth player, McEachran won four more trophies after the 2017 World Cup. Loan spells in the Netherlands didn’t lead to a breakthrough, and he was released by Chelsea in 2022. Swindon Town gave him a fresh start, where he made 55 appearances before moving to Grimsby Town in 2024. He now plays for Chesterfield in League Two.

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