Lauren James makes Lionesses Euro 2025 squad together with Michelle Agyemang

Lauren James has been included in England’s final squad of 23 players for July’s Women’s European Championship in a big boost to Sarina Wiegman’s side’s hopes of retaining the trophy they won for the first time in 2022.

The Chelsea forward has been sidelined since April with a hamstring injury but has been deemed to be fit enough to travel to Switzerland, where England will begin their campaign against France in Group D on 5 July.

There is also a place for the 19-year-old Arsenal forward Michelle Agyemang, who scored on her debut away at Belgium in April, and the Arsenal centre-back Lotte Wubben-Moy is included too following Wednesday’s withdrawal of Millie Bright.

There is no place in the squad, however, for the Brighton forward Nikita Parris, and Aston Villa midfielder Missy Bo Kearns. Both players were part of the recent, larger squad for England’s win over Portugal in May and their loss in Spain on Tuesday.

Kearns is one of four players named on standby alongside the Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley, the Manchester City midfielder Laura Blindkilde Brown and the Aston Villa defender Lucy Parker.

It means there is no place in the camp for the Brighton youngster Maisie Symonds, who received a call-up in March, nor for midfielders Laura Coombs and Katie Zelem, who were both part of England’s squad for the 2023 World Cup.

Wiegman’s squad announcement comes after a tumultuous week for the Lionesses which have seen Mary Earps and Fran Kirby both retire from international duty, and Chelsea’s Bright withdraw in order to look after her mental and physical health.

The squad will travel to Switzerland on 30 June, after starting their training camp at St George’s Park on 16 June.

This report will update shortly