Tuchel keeps England selection open to players outside top flight amid City case

Thomas Tuchel has said playing outside a country's top division would not automatically end a footballer's chances of selection for England, as Manchester City await punishment for breaches of financial rules. Speaking on Friday, the England manager said he would assess individual cases rather than impose a blanket restriction, according to BBC Sport's Alex Howell.

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The question followed confirmation on Tuesday that an independent commission had found City guilty of all charges concerning breaches of Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. City deny wrongdoing and have appealed, challenging the ruling on legal and factual grounds. No sanctions have been decided. Expulsion, points deductions and fines are among the possible penalties reported by the BBC; relegation is not a confirmed outcome.

Tuchel said his priority would remain choosing the strongest team for each England gathering or competition. His response left open the possibility of selecting players from outside the top flight if City's eventual punishment put their footballers in that position. The current England group includes City's Elliot Anderson and Marc Guehi, while Nico O'Reilly left the squad because of injury.

According to the BBC, all 24 players currently in the England squad represent clubs in top divisions. There is, however, a precedent within Tuchel's own tenure for calling up a second-tier player. Goalkeeper James Trafford was selected in March and June 2025 while playing for Burnley in the Championship, although he remained an unused substitute and only made his senior England debut after returning to City.

The BBC identified goalkeeper Sam Johnstone as the most recent player to appear for England while attached to a Championship club, having done so with West Brom in 2021. Kalvin Phillips also made his England debut as a Leeds player before he had made an appearance in the Premier League. Those examples distinguish an England call-up from actually earning a cap.

Tuchel acknowledged that the City verdict had prompted discussion among England's players, including those at the club. He said he had spoken briefly with them but did not want to offer an opinion on the case without fuller knowledge. He added that their work in training and around the camp showed they were ready for England's Nations League match against Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday.