Sunderland Midfielder will miss England U17s match after European Championships call-up

Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg will miss England’s first match at the European Under-17 Championships.

The official England under-17 squad for the forthcoming European Under-17 Championship finals in Cyprus

The 16-year-old midfielder, who played in 21 Championship games in the 2023–24 campaign, will be

suspended and unable to play in the Young Lions’ first group game against France on Tuesday, May 21.

He was sent off in a qualification encounter back in March.

In Group D, England’s next opponents are Portugal on Friday, May 24, and Spain on Monday, May 27.

The top two teams advance to the quarterfinals. The competition’s championship match is scheduled for

Wednesday, June 5.

At the Select Car Leasing Stadium, Sunderland’s under-21 Premier League 2 semi-final matchup with Reading

will be without Rigg due to his England call-up.

The Black Cats offered the midfielder a two-year scholarship last summer, but FA regulations state that Rigg

cannot sign a professional contract until June 18, when he becomes 17 years old.

“I think for Chris he’s had a really accelerated trajectory over the last couple of seasons,” Sunderland under-21s

assistant coach John Hewitson said to the Echo when asked about Rigg’s development this season.

He has consistently challenged and played up to the academy. He simply has a mindset that doesn’t allow

anything to phase him. All we can hope for is that he continues to advance in the first team and make a

significant contribution. We want him to be our shining light.

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