Michelle Agyemang's journey from Wembley ballgirl to England scorer

The Guardian

5 days ago

The rapid acceleration of Michelle Agyemang's young career is summed up in one striking revelation towards the end of her first sitdown with reporters at the national football centre: barely three and a half years ago, she was a ballgirl at Wembley for the Lionesses' 4-0 victory over Northern Ireland, which was Sarina Wiegman's first Wembley outing as England head coach. On Friday, the 19-year-old could be running out for her country under the famous arch against Portugal, after bursting into late contention for a place at July's European Championship.
Back in October 2021, a 14-minute hat-trick from substitute Beth Mead, the first woman to score a Wembley hat-trick for the Lionesses, made it an unforgettable day for Agyemang, who was then aged just 15. Fast forward to April 2025 and it was the Arsenal youngster who was making an immediate impact off the bench, scoring on her senior England debut with a top-class strike in Belgium.
England ultimately still lost that game in Leuven 3-2 but Agyemang's stunning cameo was more than enough to earn her another callup to Wiegman's squad for their Women's Nations League meetings with Portugal and Spain. The teenager said: 'It was amazing to get that call and to be here again. My family is so supportive. When I was telling them my mum was screaming, my dad was shouting as well and then my friends. I'm really grateful that she [Wiegman] has put the trust in me to come in here again and show what I can do for a longer period of time.'
Her first callup had come midway through the April international break after her fellow Arsenal striker Alessia Russo withdrew with a knock and Agyemang – who was already on international duty with England's Under-19s – was suddenly flying to Belgium. 'To come on, make my debut and score [in Belgium] was out of this world,' she said. 'All I remember is the cross in from Leah [Williamson]. It was such a surreal moment and I'm so grateful for it. There are so many more things to come and I'm just really grateful, once again, for the opportunity.'
The England defender Jess Carter poured praise on Agyemang when speaking this week, saying: 'We try and encourage the youngsters to just be themselves. They are here because they've earned the right just the same way everybody else has. Look at Michelle, she got called up [at the] last second in the last camp, she's got an absolute worldie and she's earned the right to be here again. Michelle is a perfect example of why we want the younger generation to be up here and what they can deliver.'
When England were delivering by winning the Euros in 2022, Agyemang was watching from home. Since then she has had loan spells with Watford and – this season – with Brighton, scoring three Women's Super League goals and two more in domestic cups for the Sussex club.
Then last Saturday she was in Lisbon with Arsenal as a non-playing member of their group, inside the stadium, watching first-hand as the north London club won their first European title in 18 years, an experience she will cherish for ever. 'They [Arsenal] were really helpful and got all the loan players that have been out, we all went out together,' she said. 'We were sat quite close to the girls, [we were] on the pitch after the game as well, so we still felt like a part of the squad, which was really nice to be around.
'It was crazy – I felt like a fan and like a player at the same time, so it was nice to be around. And then all the scenes after the game, it was really special.'
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She is now hoping it is not the only silverware she sees this summer. At youth international level, Agyemang has helped England qualify for the Under-19 Euros, a competition she could play in, in Poland in June, but Wiegman is evidently considering her for the senior Euros in Switzerland if she impresses in this camp.
On her transition between the Under-19s and the seniors, the youngster said: 'It's been interesting going through the different age groups, meeting different players and coaches. But I think the England pathway is so similar across the board, so it's really easy to settle in no matter where I am. The pathway enables people to get up to the seniors quickly. I think wherever I am [in whichever England team] it's about helping the team prepare and winning the trophy this year.'