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Agyemang on England rise and ball girl beginnings
Michelle Agyemang recalls being a ball girl at an England match at Wembley just four years prior, noting she was “never that close to the action.”
Now, at 19, she finds herself central to the action, having scored crucial goals that have bolstered the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 aspirations in Switzerland.
Her 81st-minute goal in the quarter-final against Sweden forced extra time and ultimately led to a triumphant, albeit chaotic, penalty shootout victory for England.
Similarly, in the semi-final, with her side on the brink of a 1-0 defeat to Italy, Agyemang, who came on as a late substitute, scored in the 96th minute to level the score, setting the stage for Chloe Kelly to secure a 2-1 win in extra time.
Agyemang’s journey with England’s youth teams culminated in an encounter with the senior squad when she served as a ball girl during Sarina Wiegman’s third match as manager – a World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in 2021.
“It was crazy,” Agyemang told BBC Sport. “Seeing the girls so close to my face. Beth Mead scored a hat-trick that day, so to be a part of that experience was invaluable and I’ll never forget it.”
Wiegman is aware of Agyemang’s transition from ball girl to first-team player, but the Arsenal forward believes her England teammates are unaware of her history, which she is content with.
To them, she is known as the unassuming teenager who transforms on the pitch.
In England’s opening match against France, Agyemang offered a glimpse of her potential.
Her four-minute cameo nearly propelled England to a comeback, with Agyemang registering more touches in the opposition box than any other player on the team, with five.
Although she couldn’t prevent the Lionesses from losing then, her goal against Sweden in the quarter-final kept their tournament hopes alive, ultimately keeping them in contention to defend their title.
“It means the world to me to finally be here,” she added.
“I don’t think I would have expected that maybe a year ago but everything happens for a reason and to be here is great. To step on the pitch, even just to wear the kit is a great privilege for me and I enjoy it – every single second of it.”
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Agyemang scores equaliser in final minutes to send England to extra-time
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Agyemang’s emergence onto the global stage has been anything but understated.
She made her England debut against Belgium in the Nations League in April, marking the occasion with a stunning volley just 41 seconds after being subbed in.
That moment firmly placed Agyemang on Wiegman’s radar, and after selecting her for the Euros squad, the England boss commented that the youngster would “bring something different” to her side.
Against Sweden, within 11 minutes of entering the pitch as a substitute, she delivered on that promise.
“As soon as I got on the pitch Chloe [Kelly] said to me: ‘Go and be yourself, go and create havoc, go and change the game,'” Agyemang said.
“To have someone give you that sort of confidence shows that they have trust in me and instils that confidence in myself as well to go and get the job done.”
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England score second goal in three minutes via Agyemang equaliser
“Havoc” is not typically a term associated with Agyemang, who, after the victory over Sweden, prioritized consoling her opponents and is described by teammate Lucy Bronze as “sweet and unassuming.”
Faith plays a significant role in Agyemang’s life, and she finds solace in gospel music before matches to center herself. Her religious beliefs have also inspired her to learn musical instruments – a pastime she has been able to continue in Switzerland, thanks to the kit man transporting her piano in a van.
“I play the piano, the bass guitar and the drums. I have my piano in my room so I’m spending a lot of time in there just playing and chilling,” she said.
“I don’t think that there’s a day that I go without playing it because it’s right in front of me. Especially on game days I probably spend about two hours just playing and enjoying myself.”
Agyemang, who is also pursuing a degree in Business Management at King’s College London, has yet to perform for the entire squad, but Lotte Wubben-Moy has had the opportunity to hear her play.
“Lotte asked me, ‘hey can I come over?’ And I said, ‘yeah, why not?’ She came and sat down for about 30 minutes and we had a good time,” she recalled.
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As the youngest member of England’s squad and competing in her first major tournament, Agyemang is still acclimating to the attention that comes with being a Lioness.
She spoke with BBC Sport prior to the public announcement that England were collaborating with law enforcement after defender Jess Carter revealed she had been subjected to racist abuse while in Switzerland.
Agyemang described being the center of attention as “weird”.
“When I was younger I wasn’t really the biggest fan of cameras and stuff around me,” she said.
“It’s nice to know that people are interested in the women’s game, and in me.”
Her composed and mature demeanor, which she attributes to her parents, aids her in balancing her rapid ascent with the growing spotlight, thereby bolstering her confidence on the field.
“Whenever I get on the pitch I have that belief I’m going to score,” she said. “Even if it’s impossible I still have that belief that I’m going to get on the scoresheet.”
If the young Agyemang had been told she would be representing England at Euro 2025, she asserts she would have believed in her ability to perform.
“I would have had full belief and confidence that I could go and make an impact,” she said.
“From a young age I have always had that confidence in myself and that belief. I definitely would have said, ‘go and do what you know you can do’.
“Hopefully we go all the way and I can show more of myself to the rest of the world.”
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