Few could have predicted the speed at which the piano-playing striker has burst on to the international stage
O
n the afternoon of Wednesday 2 April, Arsenal’s Michelle Agyemang was sitting pitchside at St George’s Park, watching her England Under-19 teammates cruise to a European Championship qualifier victory against Belgium, unable to play because of suspension.
With the senior Lionesses also based at the national football centre that week, the England manager, Sarina Wiegman, and many of her staff came along to observe the 6-0 win and several of the England players – including the captain, Leah Williamson – chatted with Agyemang in the seating area. Little could the 19-year-old have known that, just over three months later, she would be the Lionesses’ saviour – twice – in the knockout stages of Euro 2025.
A year ago, Agyemang scored a hat-trick for England at the Under-19 European Championship but few could have been bold enough to predict she would burst into the nation’s hearts on the grander stage so soon. Yet, that week in April, events were about to unfold that would transform not only her summer fortunes but England’s too.
