A few names in the EURO 2024 final squad are playing for 2 of the Premier League’s newly promoted teams Leicester City & Southampton FC.
Those who cut the final squad do not always play in the top flight, either.
In EURO 2016, for example, Iceland skipper Aron Gunnarsson was only playing for the Championship side, Cardiff City.
Another player from the lower division in Lars Lagerback’s team was Johann Berg Gudmundsson.
He was playing for Charlton Athletic at the time.
Both of them were heavily involved in helping Iceland advance to the quarterfinals after edging out England in the round of 16.
The Republic of Ireland also included a key player from the second-tier team, Jeff Hendricks, for their campaign in France in 2016.
He was playing for Derby County while getting a call-up for the tournament.
Meanwhile, in EURO 2024, Romania’s key figure, while dismantling Ukraine 3-0 at the opener, Dennis Man, is only playing for newly promoted clubs in the Italian Serie A, Parma.
Scotland also names the Championship team goalie from Norwich City, Angus Gunn.
He has been named in the starting XI in two games so far.
Here are the Euro 2024 players who not only represent their country, but also play for newly promoted Premier League teams including Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton.
Ché Adams – Southampton FC
The Scottish international is an English-born player.
He switched sides with The Tartan Army in 2021 and has featured in two major international competitions, EURO 2020 and EURO 2024.
Adams has been capped 32 times, registering six goals and three assists.
The former Sheffield United and Birmingham City man has been playing for the Saints since 2019.
He has scored 48 goals and 20 assists in all competitions.
Last season, the 27-year-old striker stayed at Saint Mary’s despite their relegation to the second tier and helped his club return to the top flight through a playoff by beating Leeds United 1-0.
In the 2023–24 campaign, he scored 17 goals and six assists in 46 games for Southampton.
During his stint, Soton’s best finish was in his first season in 2019/20, when Austrian boss Ralph Hassenhutl was still in charge.
They sat 11th in the final standings at that time.
Stuart Armstrong – Southampton FC
Adams’ teammate, Stuart Armstrong, has received a call-up for EURO 2024.
He has made 50 appearances in international fixtures, bagged five goals, and provided seven assists in all competitions.
He made his debut with the senior team in 2017, and Germany 2024 is the second major international tournament in his career.
However, unlike Che Adams, the former Celtic man is not the mainstay on Steve Clarke’s side.
Armstrong has been at St. Mary’s since 2018 after winning several domestic silverware with The Bhoys.
Last season, he hit the pitch 45 times with Southampton and contributed six goals and seven assists, which helped them return to the Premier League.
Wout Faes – Leicester City
The 26-year-old defender is the next player from EPL’s newly promoted teams to cut this year’s EURO final squad.
He is a solid starter at Leicester City, where he joined in 2022.
Faes also contributed to bringing Leicester back to the Premier League after their relegation in 2023. and it is now very hard to get Leicester City tickets.
He made 43 appearances in the second-tier EFL Championship last season.
EURO 2024 is the second major international tournament in his career.
The first one was the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The former Reims man has been on the pitch 16 times in Belgium, but he did not play a single game in Qatar.
The curly centre-back has just sealed his place in the starting line-up under Domenico Tedesco.
Unfortunately, he was unable to keep a clean sheet in the opener against Slovakia, as De Rode Duivels had to concede a goal without being able to respond well.
Their two goals from Romelu Lukaku were unfortunately disallowed.
Faes is expected to improve his form in the next decisive games versus Romania and Ukraine to keep their chance to qualify alive, as well as in the English top tier next season so that the demand for Leicester City tickets will increase and help their campaign to stay in the top flight.
Yunus Akgün – Leicester City
The 23-year-old versatile attacking midfielder is a loanee from Galatasaray.
He only joined the Foxes last season, making 23 appearances in the EFL Championship.
Akgun only contributed one goal and two assists throughout the campaign.
Previously, he was sent on loan to Adana Demirspor for two seasons.
The Turkish international has been capped nine times so far.
He registered two goals and one assist with the national team.
Akgun made his debut in 2022 while playing host to the Faroe Islands in UEFA Nations League Level C.
EURO 2024 is his first major international tournament, but he was benched in Turkey’s first game versus Georgia.
Jannik Vestergaard – Leicester City
Last but not least, there is a centre-back who has been able to bounce back from his dark days in Leicester City.
Vestergaard was once demoted from the main squad under Brendan Rodgers in the 2022–23 campaign due to his criticism of his boss while doing an interview.
He had already received a big offer to move to the Saudi Pro League but turned it down and stayed firm with King Power for the sake of his family.
A change of winds finally blew when the Northern Ireland boss left.
Under Enzo Maresca, the Danish international managed to regain his place in the starting XI and helped them return to the EPL by featuring in 42 matches.
EURO 2024 is his third major international tournament after the 2018 FIFA World Cup and EURO 2020.
The former Werder Bremen and Gladbach man has earned 42 international caps and scored three goals so far.
