The teenager has taken the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 by storm and will hoping to do the same at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in two years’ time.
- Michelle Agyemang has starred at the UEFA Women’s EURO
- England forward netted late goals against Sweden and Italy
- The teenager will look to fire the Lionesses to the title against Spain on Sunday
England’s FIFA Women’s World Cup™ qualifier against Northern Ireland in October 2021 saw the Lionesses play their first competitive game at the nation’s home stadium. That same night, another Lioness made her first trip to the famous arch. A 15-year-old Michelle Agyemang, then still a member of the Arsenal academy, got front-row seats as a ball girl, watching on as a Beth Mead hat-trick and Bethany England strike secured a resounding 4-0 victory.
The striker, who joined the North London giants at the age of six, continued to star in the youth ranks and made her senior debut as a 16-year-old in November 2022 in a victory at Leicester. Two months later she was a goalscorer, controlling, turning and firing home the seventh of nine goals as Arsenal hammered Leeds in the FA Cup.
Within a little over a year, Agyemang had starred for the England U17 and U19 sides and put pen to paper on her first professional contract with Arsenal following a fruitful spell at Watford.
“I still obviously haven’t taken it all in, but I’m really happy to be here at this club,” she said in her first interview as a professional. “The club means everything to me, it means more to be here and to sign a contract. It really makes it special.”
She spent the 2024/25 season out on loan at Brighton where the skilful forward impressed with her ability to hold up play, strong dribbling and clinical edge. That form, coupled with an injury to Alessia Russo, saw Wiegman call Agyemang up to the senior squad in April of this year for the UEFA Nations League tie with Belgium.
With 80 minutes on the clock and the Lionesses 3-1 down, Wiegman threw her new striker into the action. Within 41 seconds, she controlled a raking switch of play on her knee and volleyed into the top corner from just inside the area to halve the arrears. While England would lose 3-2, that debut strike certainly impressed her coach.
“That goal was just incredible,” Wiegman told the BBC following the match. “The composure, the first touch and the second touch. For her, it was really nice that she comes on and within a minute she has the moment.”
If timing favoured Agyemang’s run to the senior team, there was nothing fortunate about the moment which cemented her place in it. In May, Wiegman selected her for this year’s UEFA Women’s EURO as England sought to defend their title.
“I think she brings something different,” the Dutch coach said at her squad announcement. “She’s really strong up front and we have different qualities with the players we have picked. And what she showed when necessary, so much physicality, and, of course, we all remember her first goal for us against Belgium. I think that’s good to have in the team.”
“Good to have” has been an understatement. With England 2-0 down to Sweden in the quarter-finals, Agyemang was summoned from the bench. Lucy Bronze netted soon after to give the Lionesses hope before Agyemang stroked home the equaliser two minutes later. A roller-coaster penalty shootout followed, as the Lionesses squeaked through 3-2.
“It was a test of character and I think we showed what we can do as a team. Eventually we got the win,” Agyemang said following the match. “I just wanted to take the opportunity, when I came on. It’s a great privilege to be here and to even get on the pitch was surreal.
“We wanted to be direct and my plan was to make a front two with Alessia [Russo] and be that physical presence, get the ball and create chances, which is what we did. I showed a bit of passion when I celebrated the equaliser. The girls on the bench had been talking about how we wanted to make an impact and to be able to do that in front of everyone was a great moment for me.”
Lightning then, indeed, struck for a second time. Agyemang started among the substitutes but was brought on with five minutes to go as England chased a leveller in the semi-final against Italy. With the clock at 96 minutes, Lauren Hemp swung a Hail Mary ball into the middle which caused chaos in Le Azzurre’s defence and saw it drop to the feet of the opportunistic forward, who took one touch and lashed home another dramatic equaliser.
She very nearly scored the match-winner in extra time, as the confidence-fuelled teen chased a long ball forward and beat off the attentions of two Italian defenders to loft a bouncing ball over Laura Giuliani, but her audacious effort came back off the bar.
Just two minutes later, though, Mead was fouled in the box which afforded Chloe Kelly the chance to win the game. While her spot-kick was saved, she tucked home the rebound and ensured England were EURO finalists again. After the match, the majority of the acclaim went the way of her fellow supersub.
“Big Mich at it again! She is unbelievable and has got the world at her feet,” Kelly said following the victory. “A young player with a bright future and I am absolutely buzzing for her.”
“Michelle has this confidence about her that allows her to go and do what she just did,” Leah Williamson added. “You have to believe in yourself when you’re that young and step on a stage like this. The way she’s carried herself, she deserves this moment. After the other night, everyone knew her name and you could forgive someone for being happy enough with that. She went again and is a hero tonight. I hope she enjoys it.”
While Agyemang, who is a keen listener to gospel music and has even brought her piano to Switzerland with her, is still yet to start a match for her country, she’s certainly given Wiegman a selection headache heading into Sunday’s decider with Spain. Victory would not only see England become just the second side to retain this crown, but it would also see them claim revenge on La Roja for defeat in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final. For Agyemang and England, it’s all about enjoying the occasion and coming out on top.
“It is the character and the strength of this team that has got us this far,” she said. “Four years ago, I was just a kid, just throwing the ball to some of these girls and now I am here playing with them. A great opportunity and I am so happy I am here.”
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