Newly-named France U21 manager Thierry Henry has called up Chelsea’s Malo Gusto (20) and Lesley Ugochukwu (19) as well as Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery (17) for his first squad announcement this Thursday afternoon.
The legendary Arsenal forward has returned to management to replace the underperforming Sylvain Ripoll in Les Bleuets’ dugout. Henry will be tasked to lead France for the Olympic football tournament during the 2024 Paris Games and to qualify France for a fourth U-21 European Championships in a row.
Henry has elected to call up PSG midfield prodigy Warren Zaïre-Emery. The 17-year-old PSG youth product has never been called up before to feature for France’s U21. Chelsea’s Gusto and Ugochukwu have also been selected. Lyon winger Bradley Barcola, who is undergoing his medical with PSG, also got the nod. France will host Denmark at Nancy on September 7th for a friendly game before kicking off their campaign to qualify for the 2025 U-21 Euros in facing Slovenia away four days later.
Goalkeepers: Lucas Lavallée (Dunkerque), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Robin Risser (Dijon)
Defenders: Thierno Baldé (Troyes), Jeanuël Belocian (Rennes), Maxime Esteve (Montpellier), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Tanguy Kouassi (Sevilla), Castello Lukeba (Leipzig), Chrislain Matsima (Monaco), Quentin Merlin (Nantes)
Midfielders: Lucien Agoumé (Inter Milan), Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Habib Diarra (Strasbourg), Andy Diouf (Lens), Lesley Ugochukwu (Chelsea), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola (Lyon), Rayan Cherki (Lyon), Arnaud Kalimuendo (Rennes), Sekou Mara (Southampton), Wilson Odobert (Burnley), Elye Wahi (Lens)