England officially call up Manchester United duo for May 2026 fixtures

With the senior football calendar heating up and attention building ahead of next month’s FIFA World Cup, there is a growing sense of expectation around England’s future pipeline of talent.

While the spotlight will soon be on the biggest stage in world football, the development pathways remain just as important for the long-term strength of the national team.

England’s youth system continues to produce exciting prospects, and the latest under-15s camp is another reminder of the depth being built for years to come.

Manchester United are once again strongly represented in the setup, with two academy players included in a squad heading to Croatia for a four-match international series.

The Young Lions will conclude their 2025-26 campaign with fixtures against Japan, Brazil, and hosts Croatia, before a final placement match on 24 May against one of Korea Republic, Switzerland, USA, or Portugal depending on earlier results.

Joseph Akinsanya and Brian Nyonyi included in England squad

United’s involvement comes through right-back Joseph Akinsanya and highly rated defensive midfielder Brian Nyonyi, both of whom have been selected in head coach Matt Thorpe’s 24-man squad, as announced on the England website.

Akinsanya, a natural full-back, continues to be viewed as one of the promising defensive options emerging from United’s academy system.

Brian Nyonyi, meanwhile, is widely regarded within the Manchester United setup as a standout young talent, operating as a physically dominant and composed defensive midfielder capable of breaking up play and handling pressure in tight areas.

He has already featured at U15 and U18 level for United, regularly playing for an U18 side that finished second in their league campaign and also reached the FA Youth Cup final.

The midfielder’s rise has been closely monitored internally due to his strong ball recovery ability and maturity beyond his age group.

Both players were also previously called up for international youth fixtures against Iceland, Spain, and Italy, underlining their growing importance within England’s youth structure.

The squad also features players from across the Premier League academies, including Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton, and West Ham, highlighting the competitive nature of England’s youth pathway at this level.

For United, the inclusion of Akinsanya and Nyonyi reflects the continued strength of their academy production line, with both players now set for an important summer of international development.