England Football named a 25-man senior squad on 6 November with first call-ups for Jobe Bellingham and Josh King ahead of Nations League games against Croatia and Spain. The pair move up from the youth squad for Thomas Tuchel's final group-stage camp.
Tuchel brings two newcomers into the senior squad
England Football's 6 November announcement names a 25-man squad and lists Bellingham and King among its midfielders. Bellingham plays for Borussia Dortmund and King for Fulham. Neither had previously received a formal senior call-up, although King travelled with the senior squad to Florida for its pre-World Cup training camp during the summer.
Bellingham captained the youth team and now joins his brother Jude in the senior group. In an interview published by England Football on 6 November, Tuchel pointed to his Dortmund form as the reason for the promotion. “I think the door should always be open for the pathway,” England head coach Thomas Tuchel said, before explaining that Bellingham had earned his place through sustained performances.
Tuchel also wants to assess King in several attacking roles. He said the Fulham player could operate on both wings and across the front line, and recalled the impression King made during the Florida camp. Training with the seniors was useful preparation, but this selection gives King the chance to compete for a place in an England match squad.
Returns and a date check before the next games
Djed Spence and Declan Rice return after missing the previous camp through injury, the squad notice says. Ben White is back for the first time since March, having missed the World Cup after an Arsenal injury late last season. Their recalls put experienced players alongside the new arrivals for England's remaining Nations League group fixtures.
SportsRivo checked England Football's separate fixture calendar to verify the dates: Croatia visit Wembley on Thursday 12 November, before England play Spain in Madrid on Sunday 15 November. The squad announcement prints October for the Croatia match, while the association's fixture calendar places it in November. Both listed fixtures are still scheduled, so their results and any appearances for the newcomers remain open.
What the selections change for England
- Bellingham and King step from the youth squad into the senior squad for the first time, giving Tuchel a closer look at both players in a competitive international window.
- Tuchel can test King's versatility across attacking positions after seeing him train with the senior group in Florida. The call-up gives Tuchel an additional attacking option for the coming fixtures.
- Bellingham joins Jude in the same senior squad, while Rice, Spence and White return. Tuchel can assess the newcomers within a group that also contains players from the previous camp.
England's next step
England Football says the squad will gather early next week to prepare for Croatia and Spain. Selection for either match will follow once Tuchel names his team.