England will face China and Ghana in their final international friendlies of 2025.
With players like Alex Greenwood, Leah Williamson and Lauren James unavailable, other players have been given their chance to prove themselves to Sarina Wiegman ahead of World Cup qualifiers next year.
Two stars, Anouk Denton of West Ham and Freya Godfrey, got their first official senior call-up.
Anouk Denton
Technically, Denton got her first call-up during the October camp when she was brought into the senior side up from the U23S for the first time due to injuries and withdrawals. This time, however, it's her first official senior call-up, and one for the get-go.
She is a versatile full-back, crucial for England, given that key defenders are absent due to injury. She has started every WSL game for the Hammers this season. She trained with the England senior side before their game against Australia.
Since then, she has been awarded player of the match against Leicester City, before scoring against Everton in the East London side's first WSL victory of the season.
She started her career at her local club, St Albans City, before joining Arsenal’s Academy in 2016. After debuting for the Gunners at the age of 17 in 2020, Denton spent the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan with the Hammers.
Freya Godfrey.
The 20-year-old made her debut for England women's under-23s in October last year, having been part of the development team from under-14s.
Her call-up is the first senior call-up for London City Lionesses. She could present both lionesses' sides.
“I think she has done well,” explained Sarina Wiegman, England manager. “Of course, in the beginning of the season, she was injured, so she came back, and I think she came back strong.
When describing the moment she told Godfrey over the phone about her call-up, she revealed that Godfrey was “a little bit flabbergasted.”
When the London City player was asked about the call, she confessed that she did not initially answer the manager's call.
"It was an unknown number, and I'm quite a shy person, so I don't tend to pick up unknown numbers. So I actually didn't pick it up, and then she texted me, and I was like 'oh gosh, I better ring her back!’ So I rang her, and she was lovely. She was very complimentary. Obviously, I was in quite a bit of shock."
“I didn’t really know what to say, so I kept saying 'thank you', because that's what it is. I'm just grateful for the opportunity. I'm still young; I still have time, especially in the U23S. I didn't expect it to come so soon. So yeah, I was definitely surprised.”
Godfrey has represented England at every other age group and captained the U19S.
Wiegman said: “She’s technically perfect, she has pace, and she does unexpected things for the opponents. I really want to see her in our environment and see what she can bring."
After coming through the ranks with the Gunners, she impressed during loan spells with Ipswich Town, Charlton Athletic and London City Lionesses, who she joined permanently in the summer of 2025.
The 20-year-old has particularly proven her worth since the last England camp with two goals and two assists. Godfrey scored a brace and provided an assist during London City's excellent 4-2 victory over Tottenham.
Wiegman explained that the reason for the call-up was that she has done well for the club, and that the manager had seen in the pathway in which the senior side works very closely. The Dutchwomen wanted to see Godfrey in the senior environment.
She continued to say, “I think she brings something different. She's very excited, and I’m excited too to see what she can bring to our squad.”
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