By Rachel Gore 20/1/24
Above The England Young Lionesses. Photo: Football Association
In November the England women’s under-19s finished their 2023 season with triumph at the Algarve Cup.
The squad came away from this camp in Portugal undefeated with the players having showcased their talent on an international stage.
The 25-player squad is full of young stars who impress when playing for both their clubs and their country.
Here are four of these talented players to look out for during the second half of the season.
Freya Godfrey
Freya Godfrey is one of the more experienced members of the under-19s England squad having made her WSL debutplaying for Arsenal in May of 2023.
The attacking midfielder spent much of the 22/23 season playing for Ipswich Town under dual registration with Arsenal. She excelled on the pitch and even scored the winner in the team’s last match of the season.
At the beginning of this season Godfrey went on loan toCharlton Athletic, who finished the 2023 portion of the season second in the Barclays Women’s Championship table.
Godfrey not only impresses when playing for her club, but also when she takes to the pitch for England. During the Algarve Cup she played a huge role in the team’s success.
In their first game against Portugal, Godfrey scored England’s second goal 65 minutes into the match. This allowed England to come away with a draw.
After leading the team out in their second game, Godfrey worked her way onto the score sheet once more. Only 30 minutes into the match she scored against Sweden – a contribution towards the team’s 5-1 victory.
The under-19s final match against the Netherlands, was Godfrey’s final opportunity to showcase her skill on this camp. She scored once again, the third goal of the game leading the girls to come out with a 3-3 draw and leave Portugal undefeated.
As Freya Godfrey headed back to finish 2023 at Charlton Athletic it became clear to all that she’s one to watch, her presence on the pitch cannot go unnoticed.
Alexia Potter
Alexia (Lexi) Potter became the youngest-ever professional female player in England when she signed a professional contract with Chelsea in September at the age of 17. This signing came before she joined Crystal Palace on loan for the remained of the 23/24 season.
Only 12 minutes after coming on as a substitute during Palace’s 14th November game against Lewes, Potter scored her first professional goal. Her entrance onto the pitch changed the game, when she came on the score was 1-1 but in the end, Palace came away victorious, winning 3-2.
Potter is a go-to captain when she plays for England, leading the under-17s to the semi-finals of the UEFA Euros in the summer and also captaining the under-19s during their first game of the Algarve Cup.
In the U19s most recent game against the Netherlands it was Lexi Potter’s corner that led to Godfrey’s goal.
Potter’s come through the ranks of Chelsea’s academy and it seems like she will be a big part of their future when she returns after her season on loan at Crystal Palace.
Ava Baker
Ava Baker made her professional debut for Leicester in January of 2022, just three days after she turned 16 years old. A couple of months later, in May, came her first WSL performance at Leicester’s final home match of the 22/23 season.
Since then, Baker has become a crucial part of the Leicester City squad, playing in many of their matches. The teenager is gaining weekly experience in the WSL, playing against some of the best and most experienced players in the world.
Baker has become a regular feature in the England youth teams having played in all three matches of the recent Algarve Cup.
A product of Leicester City’s academy, it’s looking like Baker will go down in the club’s history book, and there’s no doubt we’ll see her in the senior Lionesses squad if she continues to play the way that she has been.
Ria Bose
Unlike the players we have already looked at, Ria Bose is yet to make her professional debut. However, the young Chelsea defender excels on the pitch.
Having recently come back from an ACL injury Bose has performed impressively, making exceptional tackles and blocks during games.
During the Algarve Cup Bose started in two of the matches, coming on as a substitute in the other.
Her impact on the pitch is huge, as is her presence on social media. The young baller has over 500,000 followers on TikTok and over 200,000 on Instagram. On these social media platforms, she posts about life as an academy player, at times going live during the girl’s downtime on England camps.
Bose is a player that fans are growing to love and her performance on the pitch is evidence of the bright future she has ahead of her.
What’s next for the under-19 England squad?
The under-19s will soon play in round two of qualification for next summer’s UEFA Women’s Under-19 EURO.
After three victories, nine goals, and only one conceded goal at round one of these qualifications, the Young Lionesses have proven that they are a force to be reckoned with.
The future of these players is bright, whether they’re currently playing in academies, the Championship or the WSL, their performances highlight the talent of young girls.
Look out for these girls, it seems like they’re going to be a big part of Lionesses’ squads of the future.
Follow Impetus ’71 on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball and @impetus71 TikTok: @Impetus71 Facebook: @Impetus71
Instagram: @Impetus_71 Threads: @Impetus_71
impetusfootball.org 