On October 28, 2017, England were crowned U17 World Cup champions for the first time. It was a monumental moment for those adorned in the white of the nation as England endured widespread success and plaudits – and rightfully so. Steve Cooper's side won all three of their group games in India, before seeing off Japan, United States and Brazil to reach the final against a well-oiled Spain outfit.

It looked as if England would fall at the final hurdle when they fell 2-0 down to Spain in the final. But the Young Lions roared back with delight and eventually prevailed 5-2. A well-drilled, young and hungry outfit made the nation roar once more with a World Cup to their name, but what are they up to now?

Some have gone on to feature at senior level, others are enjoying loan stints in the English pyramid, while a few are struggling to find clubs that will take them – so, it’s fair to say the boys are on quite the spectrum. Somehow, nine years have now passed since their iconic victory in India – but who featured in England's triumphant squad, and where are they now? Find out all you need to know below.

Goalkeeper: Curtis Anderson

Retired

Curtis Anderson was sadly not able to kick on to further heights after playing a crucial role in England's U17 World Cup triumph in 2017. He joined Charlotte Independence after leaving Manchester City, but was released just five months later.

A plethora of clubs were then added to his CV after Wycombe Wanderers picked him up, though he was released by the club without playing a single game for them. He went on to play for the likes of Walton Casuals, Eastbourne, Lancaster City and Kendal Town before retiring from football in 2023 at the age of just 23 to pursue a career as a financial advisor.

Goalkeeper: Josef Bursik

AFC Wimbledon (on loan from Portsmouth)

Josef Bursik sealed a transfer to Stoke City in the summer of the tournament and booked himself a spot on the plane, though did not manage to get any minutes under his belt once there. After being sent out on loan a handful of times, including to Accrington Stanley and Peterborough United, his best spell in net came at Lincoln City as he became the club’s number one choice when fit, available and raring to go.

He moved to Club Brugge in Belgium in the summer of 2023 but the once-promising goalkeeper struggled to stamp his full authority and racked up an unfortunate zero appearances. After signing for Portsmouth in 2025, he's currently spending the 2026/27 campaign on loan at AFC Wimbledon.

Goalkeeper: Billy Crellin

Glentoran

Cooper’s trust in Anderson meant that Billy Crellin was reduced to just one appearance for England as they ran out as tournament winners in 2017. After coming through the ranks at Fleetwood Town, Crellin then signed for a host of League One and National League clubs, such as FC United of Manchester, Chorley, and Bolton Wanderers.

Everton then signed the youngster for an undisclosed fee in January 2022, though he failed to feature for the first team, having to rack up minutes for the U21s. Now 26, the Blackpool-born stopper plies his trade in Northern Ireland with Glentoran.

Defender: Steven Sessegnon

AFC Wimbledon

Big things were expected of the youngster and not just because he is the twin brother of Ryan, who is currently at Fulham. Steven Sessegnon played a key part in England’s win, playing five games and notching two assists when it mattered the most: in the final.

Sessegnon made 15 appearances for Fulham in the 2019/20 season but struggled in the season following, which led to him joining League One outfit Charlton Athletic on a season-long loan in the summer of 2022. Now in League One with AFC Wimbledon, it’s not unfair to say that he will be unable to mimic the career that his older brother has carved out for himself.

Defender: Timothy Eyoma

Lommel SK

Rising through the ranks at Tottenham Hotspur, he made his senior bow for the north London-based side in January 2019 against Tranmere Rovers in the FA Cup. A year later, he had been shipped off to Lincoln City on a loan basis, though he returned to Spurs thanks to the sport-marring COVID-19 pandemic. Timothy Eyoma did, however, join Lincoln permanently back in 2021 following his successful loan spell.

The defender was a regular for a Lincoln side that straddled mid-table in League One and his performances for the England U17s earned him a call-up to the U19 side in late 2018, where he has gone on to feature six times. However, the club announced he would be released following the end of the 2023/24 season, and he is now plying his trade for Lommel SK in Belgium's top tier.

Defender: Lewis Gibson

Preston North End

Lewis Gibson, now 25, had a tricky time settling in for Everton's first team and endured a long list of loan spells since 2017 at Fleetwood, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, and Bristol Rovers. Having failed to impress to his full extent at any of the aforementioned clubs, he joined Championship side Plymouth Argyle on a free transfer two summers ago and has claimed one of the centre-back berths as his, playing 63 games before departing.

Gibson was a regular under Cooper for the England U17s but has had a lesser level of success in the older age groups, racking up three and four appearances for the U18s and U20s, respectively. Nowadays, he's a regular presence in the heart of the back line for Championship outfit Preston North End.

Defender: Marc Guehi

Manchester City

Marc Guehi has emerged as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League right now after graduating from Chelsea’s fabled academy set up, Cobham. The 26-year-old, who has been outstanding for a number of years, made his England debut in March 2022 and has gone to feature an additional 40 times.

A regular at every youth level the national side has to offer, Guehi has been an excellent servant to England. Guehi is not only a key player at Manchester City but is also the Three Lions' best-loved central defender, as his stoic performances at Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup were pivotal to his nation's deep runs.

Defender: Jonathan Panzo

Levadiakos F.C.

A Chelsea youth export, Jonathan Panzo plied his trade in France with Monaco and Dijon before returning to English football with Nottingham Forest in January 2023. Initially settling for a reserve side spot in Monaco, he made his senior debut for the French outfit against Lorient. He now earns his corn for Levadiakos F.C. in Greece.

While many thought he could become a great asset for the Tricky Trees, he was sent out to Coventry, Cardiff City, and Standard Liege on loan. Cooper was a keen admirer of the London-born defender, handing him his 20 caps in the England U17 set-up, and he went on to feature under Aidy Boothroyd at U21s level on five separate occasions.

Defender: Joel Latibeaudiere

Coventry City

Joel Latibeaudiere was given vice-captain duties as he became a vital cog in Cooper’s well-oiled machine out in India, playing every possible minute. Doncaster-born, the former Manchester City prospect joined FC Twente on loan in 2019/20, though his performances were not appealing to Pep Guardiola upon his return to England.

As such, he linked back up with Cooper – then manager of Swansea City – in 2020 and became a hardened regular for the Welsh side.

Three years down the line, he was shipped back to England for some minutes at Coventry City, where he remains today. Latibeaudiere was called up to the Jamaica national team in May 2022. He made his unofficial debut in a 6-0 friendly defeat to Catalonia on 25 May, and has since made 34 appearances. His switch in allegiance can be considered a shame considering the impact he had on England’s Cooper-led iconic juncture.

Midfielder: George McEachran

Chesterfield

A former Chelsea youth teamer, George McEachran became a perennial winner as, after England’s win in India, he went on to win four extra trophies that campaign. A pair of loan stints at Dutch duo SC Cambuur and MVV Maastricht failed to develop into anything special and McEachran was released by Chelsea in the summer of 2022 after failing to make an appearance.

It took until February 2023 for Swindon Town to register their interest in the free-to-join central midfielder, and he went on to make 55 appearances, notching two assists in that time. It certainly revived his career before he moved on to Grimsby Town in the summer of 2024, a place where he has continued to be a starter. He now plays for Chesterfield in League Two.