England boss Sarina Wiegman predicted Michelle Agyemang would “bring something different” after naming the young starlet in her Euros squad.
And as the current holders headed towards quarter-final heartbreak against Sweden, she did just that.
The 19-year-old stepped off the bench to slot home England’s equaliser in the 81st minute, taking the game to extra time and, subsequently, penalties.
Lucy Bronze tucked away a sublime spot kick before Smilla Holmberg’s miss secured the Lionesses’ place in the semis.
Though the moment of the night undeniably belonged to Agyemang — a relative unknown in an otherwise star-studded England squad.
As Michelle Agyemang’s career looks set to reach new heights, we take a look at her story so far.
Michelle Agyemang: Arsenal to the Core
Born in London on 3 February 2006, Michelle Agyemang grew up with football ingrained in her DNA. Her father was a big Manchester United fan, while her brother and sister preferred Chelsea and West Ham United respectively.
Despite the split allegiance, it was Arsenal that won Agyemang’s heart, with the budding winger idolising Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud as a youngster.
She then got to live every football fan’s dream, signing for Arsenal’s academy at six years old after her dad, a grassroots football coach, secured her a trial.
Initially a defender, Michelle Agyemang found her niche playing further up the field as she progressed through the ranks.
A string of impressive showings at youth level prompted Arsenal to hand her a first-team debut in the club’s 4–0 drubbing of Leicester back in November 2022. Agyemang was just 16 at the time.
Since then, she’s enjoyed fruitful loan spells at Watford and, more recently, Brighton. After putting pen to paper on her first professional contract with the Gunners, the teenager impressed on the coast.
In 22 appearances, she notched three WSL goals and two more in domestic cup competitions.
Michelle Agyemang’s England Rollercoaster
Rescuing England in the Euros and becoming a national icon likely wasn’t on Michelle Agyemang’s 2025 bingo card.
In 2021, she was a ball girl in Sarina Wiegman’s first match in charge at Wembley. Last night’s coming-of-age moment completed a stunning career arc that perfectly encapsulates football’s romanticism.
Agyemang was by no means a newbie to the England setup — she made 25 appearances for the national team from the U16s to the U23s.
Though the catalyst for her recent heroics came back in April.
Agyemang went from scoring for the U19s in their victory over Austria to producing a stunning cameo off the bench for the senior team against Belgium a few days later.
In what was her debut, it took Agyemang all of 41 seconds to grab her first senior goal, thundering the ball into the top corner.
Former Arsenal and Scotland defender Jen Beattie told the Women’s Football Weekly podcast that Agyemang’s rise had long been coming.
“She is unreal,” she said. “She was an academy player when I was at Arsenal and she used to come up to training and was sometimes involved in match squads.”
Beattie highlighted Agyemang’s finishing, saying she’d often produce top-drawer strikes on the training field.
“I kid you not, she would do that in training,” Beattie added. “She is an incredible box player, an unbelievable finisher. She doesn’t need more than one or two touches, exactly what you saw against Belgium.”
Speaking after that whirlwind few days, Agyemang said: “To come on, make my debut and score was out of this world.
“All I remember is the cross in from Leah (Williamson). It was such a surreal moment and I’m so grateful for it.
“There are so many more things to come and I’m just really grateful, once again, for the opportunity.”
Arguably, it was that moment that put Agyemang firmly in the frame for Wiegman’s Euros squad — and the entire country is now thankful it did.
What Michelle Agyemang’s Teammates Had to Say
Michelle Agyemang was very much England’s wildcard pick. Not necessarily one of the group’s biggest names, she was a surprise inclusion that few knew much about.
Asked whether bringing her on at such a crucial moment in last night’s quarter-final was brave, head coach Wiegman said: “This is basically why we selected her.
“We know she hasn’t been in our environment for a long period of time, but the moment she came in she did really well and she brings something different.
“She has shown that in training, against Belgium, against France. She’s so strong and then she scores a goal too. She’s shown that she can do that.”
Chloe Kelly, who also stepped off the bench to make an impact, told Sky: “The girls coming onto the pitch did their jobs and executed it really well. That just shows, with the whole squad, when you’re needed you take your moment.”
Speaking about Agyemang in training, England right-back and Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze added: “She just runs into people and bodies them because she’s so strong.
“She’s so sweet and unassuming as a person, but then on the pitch she’s probably one of my favourites to play against because I can run into her dead hard!
“She likes to give it back. She’s been told (by Wiegman) that she needs to go a little bit easier but I said: ‘No, just keep it up Micha, I prefer it, it makes it harder for us.'”
