England head coach Sarina Wiegman has explained her decision to hand London City Lionesses winger Freya Godfrey her first senior call-up.
The 20-year-old has made the England squad for their upcoming friendlies with China and Ghana.
It will be England’s last fixtures before qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup gets underway in March.
Godfrey will be hoping to get some minutes to prove herself so she can build some momentum and get into the England team should they qualify for the World Cup in two years.
What did Sarina Wiegman say about Freya Godfrey?
England head coach Sarina Wiegman said Freya Godfrey will offer “something different” to the England squad.
She also insisted that she has been impressed with Godfrey since her return from injury, after missing the start of the season.
Wiegman said: “I think she’s done well, of course at the beginning of the season, she was injured and came back, I think she came back strong.
“I want to see her in our environment, I think she brings something different, a young player of course, she was very excited. So I’m excited to see what she can bring in our squad.”
When asked how Godfrey reacted to the call-up, Wiegman added: “It was really nice she was ‘wow’. I think she was a bit flabbergasted but I told her to go out there and enjoy her football and show what she can do.”
A first senior call-up for Freya Godfrey! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/J3LAz68XBZ
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 18, 2025
Who is Freya Godfrey?
Godfrey came through a talented Arsenal academy, which also included the likes of Katie Reid and Michelle Agyemang.
She joined Arsenal at the age of 12 and impressed at youth level, scoring 13 goals in 18 appearances in the WSL Academy League.
The winger played for Ipswich Town in the Women’s National League during the 2022-23 season, while on dual-registration with Arsenal.
At Ipswich, she played as a central striker, scoring eight goals in all competitions.
At the end of the WNL season, she made her first senior Arsenal appearance in May 2023, as a substitute during a 4-0 win over Brighton.
After signing her first permanent contract with Arsenal, she joined Charlton on loan for the 2023-24 season, scoring one goal and providing three assists in 20 appearances.
Godfrey remained at Arsenal for the first half of the 2024-25 season before joining the Lionesses for the second half of the campaign.
She then joined the Lionesses permanently in the summer on a contract which lasts until 2028.
Freya Godfrey’s 2025-26 stats
Godfrey’s performances have stepped up since the London City Lionesses were promoted to the top tier of English football.
The 20-year-old has particularly proven her worth since the last England camp with two goals and two assists.
Godfrey scored a brace and provided an assist during London City’s excellent 4-2 victory over Tottenham.
She followed that off with another assist during their 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
Those two victories have helped the London City Lionesses to sixth in the WSL standings – just one point below European champions Arsenal and Tottenham.
Godfrey has started four of her five WSL games this season, playing a total of 299 minutes.
She has done well to play so many minutes after the Lionesses’ busy summer transfer window which they brought in 16 players.
Who else has made the England squad?
The England squad for their upcoming friendlies with China and Ghana sees returns for Lauren Hemp and Grace Clinton, who missed the last camp with injuries.
Absentees include Hannah Hampton, Michelle Agyemang, Katie Reid, Leah Williamson and Jess Carter.
Reid suffered an ACL injury after Agyemang suffered the same injury during the last England camp.
Williamson is closing in on a return after not featuring for club and country since the Euro 2025 final.
Carter, meanwhile, is preparing for the NWSL play-off final this weekend with Gotham FC.
