"It is just unfair to the rest of the U21s in the world."
This sentiment, shared widely across social media, captures the extraordinary quality of England's current Under-21 squad. With talent drawn from Europe's elite clubs, Lee Carsley's young lions boast an estimated transfer value exceeding £500 million—surpassing even the 2023 European Championship-winning side.
While the senior England team faces scrutiny over Thomas Tuchel's decision to recall veterans Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford, excitement continues to build around what many are calling a "new golden generation" at the U21 level.
The 2023 Under-21 side etched their names in history by winning the European Championship, but Carsley has already challenged his new-look 2025 squad to aim higher. "It's difficult to compare [2023 and 2025] at the minute," Carsley told BBC Sport reporter Alex Howell. "We are looking at the last squad knowing what they did. To win six games and not concede any goals [in the entire tournament], I think that will be very hard to recreate. But it's a goal and it's a target."
He added: "That's the challenge we have put down for these players – we want them to be better than the last group, so hopefully they can be."
Only four players from the Euro 2023 winning squad remain in Carsley's current selection: Jarrad Branthwaite, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Charlie Cresswell, and Harvey Elliott.
According to Football Transfers' 'Estimated Transfer Value' algorithm, the current Under-21 squad is valued at an impressive £516.9 million—nearly double the £280 million valuation of the Euro 2023 champions at the start of that tournament. This calculation considers Champions League appearances, Premier League experience, international caps, and contract status at club level.
Leading the valuation charts are Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens (£59.7m), Manchester City's Rico Lewis (£53.6m), and Liverpool's Harvey Elliott (£40.2m). Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, despite playing for a club outside the traditional "Big Six," is valued at £40.1m, his worth significantly enhanced by his inclusion in England's Euro 2024 senior squad.
Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri, though currently valued at a relatively modest £28.2m due to limited appearances and contract status, is expected to see his value rise rapidly as he gains more experience.
Interestingly, the overall value of the Euro 2023 team has more than doubled in just two years, rising from £280m to £626m. Should the current squad experience similar growth, England could soon boast a set of Under-21 players with a combined valuation exceeding £1 billion.
BBC Sport's Alex Howell, who covered England's victorious Euro 2023 U21 campaign in Georgia, offers additional perspective: "Carsley went into the 2023 tournament without a recognised centre-forward and - after losing Flo Balogun to the USA - played Anthony Gordon as his main striker."
"This time there are no such issues and in Liam Delap, he has many people's pick as senior captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane's successor," Howell notes.
The current squad features several players who have already caught the eye at senior level. "Newcastle United's Lewis Hall and Manchester City's Rico Lewis were left out of the last tournament and are still eligible for the whole qualifying campaign this time, but Hall now looks set to be the England senior team's first-choice left-back," explains Howell.
"Ethan Nwaneri is having a breakthrough season at Arsenal and has been accelerated into the Under-21s and is joined in a midfield including Jobe Bellingham and Elliot Anderson, who is starring for Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest."
Several players are straddling both squads: Jarell Quansah, Morgan Rogers, James Trafford, and Myles Lewis-Skelly were all included in Tuchel's initial England senior squad but could move back to Carsley's group as senior players return from injury.
With talents like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, and John Stones expected to feature in Tuchel's plans, England's football future appears exceptionally bright at all levels.
