Where Are England's 2017 U17 World Cup Winners Today?

On October 28, 2017, England claimed their first-ever U17 World Cup title, marking a significant achievement in English football. Managed by Steve Cooper, the team won all three group games in India and overcame Japan, the United States, and Brazil to reach the final against Spain.

The final seemed out of reach when England fell 2-0 behind, but they mounted a remarkable comeback to win 5-2. This squad brought pride to the nation, but nine years on, the players have followed very different routes in their careers.

Here’s a look at the members of that victorious team and where they are now.

Goalkeepers

• Curtis Anderson - Retired: After playing a key role in the World Cup win, Anderson struggled to progress. He left Manchester City for Charlotte Independence but was released within five months. Stints with Wycombe Wanderers, Walton Casuals, Eastbourne, Lancaster City, and Kendal Town followed before he retired at 23 to become a financial advisor.
• Josef Bursik - AFC Wimbledon (on loan from Portsmouth): Bursik moved to Stoke City just before the tournament but didn’t play there. Loan spells included Accrington Stanley, Peterborough United, and notably Lincoln City, where he was first-choice goalkeeper. In 2023, he transferred to Club Brugge but did not make any appearances. After signing with Portsmouth in 2025, he is currently on loan at AFC Wimbledon for the 2026/27 season.
• Billy Crellin - Glentoran: Crellin played only once during the tournament due to Cooper’s preference for Anderson. Developed at Fleetwood Town, he later appeared for FC United of Manchester, Chorley, and Bolton Wanderers. Everton signed him in 2022, but he never played for their first team, mainly featuring for the U21s. Now 26, he plays in Northern Ireland with Glentoran.

Defenders

• Steven Sessegnon - AFC Wimbledon: Twin brother to Ryan Sessegnon, Steven contributed two assists in five games during the tournament. After making 15 appearances for Fulham in 2019/20, he struggled the following season, leading to a loan at Charlton Athletic. Currently, he competes in League One with AFC Wimbledon but has not matched his brother’s career trajectory.
• Timothy Eyoma - Lommel SK: Rising through Tottenham Hotspur’s youth ranks, Eyoma debuted in January 2019. Following a loan to Lincoln City, he returned permanently in 2021 but was released after the 2023/24 season. Now, he plays in Belgium’s top division for Lommel SK.
• Lewis Gibson - Preston North End: Gibson faced difficulties breaking into Everton’s first team and spent several seasons on loan to clubs including Fleetwood, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, and Bristol Rovers. He later joined Plymouth Argyle on a free transfer, becoming a regular defender before moving to Preston North End in the Championship, where he remains a key player.
• Marc Guehi - Manchester City: Guehi has risen as one of the Premier League’s top centre-backs after coming through Chelsea’s academy. He debuted for England’s senior team in March 2022 and has earned over 40 caps. In October 2024, he set a Crystal Palace record by becoming the first player to reach 20 England caps while representing the club. His strong performances at Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup were central to England’s success. He currently plays for Manchester City and is a trusted figure in the national team.
• Jonathan Panzo - Levadiakos F.C.: A Chelsea youth product, Panzo played in France with Monaco and Dijon before joining Nottingham Forest in 2023. Loan spells at Coventry, Cardiff City, and Standard Liege followed. He earned 20 caps with England’s U17s and played five times at U21 level. Now, he plays in Greece for Levadiakos F.C.
• Joel Latibeaudiere - Coventry City: Vice-captain during the 2017 tournament, Latibeaudiere featured in every match. After a loan at FC Twente and a period at Swansea City under Steve Cooper, he moved to Coventry City. Since May 2022, he has represented Jamaica internationally, debuting unofficially in a friendly against Catalonia. He has made 34 appearances for Jamaica.

Midfielders

• George McEachran - Chesterfield: A former Chelsea youth player, McEachran won four additional trophies after the U17 World Cup triumph. Loan spells in the Netherlands at SC Cambuur and MVV Maastricht did not lead to breakthrough success, and he was released by Chelsea in 2022 without first-team appearances. Swindon Town signed him in early 2023, where he made 55 appearances with two assists before moving to Grimsby Town in 2024. He currently plays for Chesterfield in League Two.