How Crystal Palace built England’s Euro 2024 squad

This is an updated version of an article first published on May 22.

It is a reflection on Crystal Palace’s recruitment over recent seasons that four of their players have been named in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad for the European Championship this summer.

No other club boasts more, with Palace edging out Manchester City’s three representatives. To put that in perspective, the last time Palace owned a player who went to a major tournament in England was Euro 92, when Nigel Martyn travelled as Graham Taylor’s backup goalkeeper (Ruben Loftus-Cheek, then on loan at Selhurst Park from Chelsea, went to the 2018 World Cup).

It is a remarkable achievement and a vindication of the club’s recently adopted approach to the transfer market. The arrival of Eberechi Eze, then aged 22, in August 2020 set the tone and kickstarted Palace’s switch towards signing younger, dynamic, exciting players. Marc Guehi, then 21, followed from Chelsea a year later to help upgrade their defence. Both have performed at an outstanding level since.

Last summer saw the arrival of Dean Henderson, already a senior international, while Adam Wharton’s move from Blackburn Rovers in this season’s winter window continued the theme of buying young, developing talent and showing players what can be achieved if they perform for Palace.

“It’s amazing for the club and the boys,” chairman Steve Parish told Sky Sports News when the players were initially called up to Southgate’s provisional squad. “They’ve all brought something different to the club. It’s great for us, but even better for them. We hope they make the cut and we see them playing in the Euros — it would be amazing.

“If you’re playing well, it brings people’s attention. It’s been a great few weeks for the club, culminating in the call-ups.”

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England.#Euro2024. pic.twitter.com/lmCuG6cQv1

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) June 6, 2024

Wharton’s inclusion is the most eye-catching.

He has started every game since being introduced as a first-half substitute in the humbling 4-1 defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion on February 3, establishing himself as an integral part of their team in the period since with his assured, composed performances marked by the calm authority of his passing.

He had been tracked by sporting director Dougie Freedman for some time and, having been persuaded to move south, arrived in a deal worth up to £22million ($27m) including add-ons, armed only with 18 months of senior experience in the Championship.

But his seamless transition to the Premier League, where he has become one of Palace’s most important players despite being only 20, and his composed display on his senior debut on Monday against Bosnia & Herzegovina bodes well. Both Roy Hodgson, who departed later in February, and Oliver Glasner placed their faith in the youngster — and he did not let them down.

That willingness to trust in youth has paid off at Palace.

Hodgson previously tipped Guehi, who has captained the club, for a more important role with his country in future. “Marc Guehi, who I admire and like very much, I can see him being a future captain, maybe even of England — that’s how good that boy is,” he said. Predecessor Patrick Vieira considered the centre-back to be his Palace player of the year for the 2021-22 season and believes he can play in the Champions League.

The defender may have been signed from Chelsea, but his senior experience up to then consisted only of loan spells in the Championship. The same largely applied to Eze, who had chalked up over 100 appearances for Queens Park Rangers in the second tier but was a Premier League novice, and Michael Olise, who had been playing at that same level with Reading. The latter, so impressive over recent weeks, was born in London but sees his international future with France.

Their success allows Palace to put forward a convincing proposition to prospective signings from the Championship that a move to their corner of south London can not only grant you regular top-flight game time but, if you excel, a route to senior international recognition.

Had Olise not spent a significant chunk of the season injured, he may have earned a first senior France call-up for the looming tournament in Germany. Instead, he has been named in their Olympic squad, alongside Jean-Philippe Mateta, playing on home soil later this summer.

Even Henderson, who has found it difficult at times this season, has stepped up after Sam Johnstone’s elbow injury on England duty in March.

“You don’t become a bad goalkeeper overnight,” he said after the 1-0 win over Liverpool in April. “If it’s injuries or whatever, sometimes you need a block of work to get back to your best and get match sharpness, like every player does.” That has been reflected in his improvement since coming back into the team.

It is worth acknowledging that Johnstone would almost certainly have made Southgate’s squad — probably at Henderson’s expense — were it not for that season-ending injury.

Tyrick Mitchell might feel aggrieved at not being on the initial 33-name list, particularly with England’s lack of left-back options. The 24-year-old was considered and has not yet given up hope of adding to his two England caps — both in friendlies — but a switch to Jamaica, for whom he is also eligible, is not out of the question.

With Luke Shaw, whose season has been severely disrupted by injuries, as the only recognised left-back in the squad named on Tuesday, Mitchell’s consistently high performances since his debut for Palace in 2020 have gone overlooked. His two England appearances may have been unremarkable, but he has rarely let Palace down, is always determined and hard-working, and has hit the same high levels under Glasner — as a left wing-back — that he reached under Vieira to earn that international debut.

It is not only with England that Palace can point to their players earning call-ups, but the majority of the younger talent they have acquired are English and it is those players who have developed most notably.

We are too early in Glasner’s tenure to know what his plan for youth is, but it is difficult to see how, after the success of the recruitment strategy, Palace would not continue down that more sustainable route. Their imminent signing of 20-year-old defender Chadi Riad, who has impressed at Spain’s Real Betis this season, is an indication the policy is ongoing.

There can be no question that Palace are an attractive option for players.

These call-ups only serve to strengthen their hand in every way and point to an impressive consistency in their approach in the transfer market. 

(Top photo: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images))