Thomas Tuchel has said he would “never rule out” selecting a player who is not playing in the top flight for their club, amid the possibility that Manchester City could be relegated as punishment for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.
On Tuesday it was confirmed that City had been found guilty by an independent commission of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The club, which denies guilt, has appealed against the verdict, saying the ruling contained “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe”. Sanctions have not yet been decided, with potential punishments including expulsion from the league, points deductions and fines.
The situation reaches directly into the England squad. City players Elliot Anderson and Marc Guehi are currently with the national team, while Nico O’Reilly was in the group until he left with an injury. All 24 players in the current England squad play in top leagues for their clubs, and it is very unusual for a player to represent the Three Lions from outside a top division.
Speaking to the media on Friday, ahead of England’s Nations League meeting with Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday (17:00 BST), Tuchel described the City verdict as a “big subject” in the camp. Asked whether he would select players not playing in the top flight, he said: “There is always a possibility. I would always try to pick the best team for the camp, for the occasion, for the tournament. I will never rule out that because they don’t play in the top flight in their country. We need to look at it case by case.”
There is some recent precedent for the approach. James Trafford was named in Tuchel’s squads in March and June 2025 while still in the Championship with Burnley, although he was an unused substitute on those occasions and did not win a full cap until he returned to Manchester City. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone was the last player to represent England while playing in the Championship, for West Brom in 2021, while Kalvin Phillips, then at Leeds, made his England debut before he had played in the Premier League.
Tuchel also addressed the subject being discussed among his players, saying: “We had some time off between the matches and it is a big subject. Everyone speaks about it, so there is no other voice needed. I am glad to be not that voice. No-one needs my half knowledge on the topic.
“Of course, the players talk about it. City players talk about it. We talk with them but only briefly. They are ready to go tomorrow, that’s what they show on the pitch and in camp. But of course, it’s a big topic in the camp.”