Ranking every ex-EFL player in England’s World Cup squad from worst to best | OneFootball

The majority of Thomas Tuchel's squad have spent time developing their game in the EFL

The FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico is now well underway, and many of the top nations have already made various statements backing up claims that they are to end up as the tournament's eventual winners on July 19th.

The first-ever 48-team World Cup is also the first for England under the management of Thomas Tuchel, who is hoping to bring his strong pedigree when it comes to knockout football at club level onto football's biggest international stage.

The Three Lions had made great strides under his predecessor and former Middlesbrough boss, Sir Gareth Southgate, reaching the semi-finals and quarter-finals in the past two World Cups, with heartbreaking UEFA European Championship final losses to Italy and Spain as well.

Unsurprisingly, the German's 26-man squad selection prior to, and indeed, during the tournament as a result of injury issues have sparked plenty of debate, but if there is one thing not up for debate, it is that the EFL has played a huge role in the development of many individuals at Tuchel's disposal.

Indeed, only six of those 26 players have not featured in the Championship, League One and League Two at some point in their careers thus far - Nico O'Reilly, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke.

With that said, Football League World have subsequently ranked the other 20 who have played in the EFL from worst to best.

20 ? ? Trevoh Chalobah

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At the bottom of this ranking is centre-back, Trevoh Chalobah, who was drafted in by his former Chelsea boss, Tuchel, following a calf injury sustained by Tino Livramento.

The 26-year-old is yet to really make his mark on the Three Lions' senior setup, but has just come off the back of a 47-game season for the West London outfit - the most times he has played for his current employers in a single campaign.

This comes seven years after he was first sent out on loan to the EFL, joining Ipswich Town in the 2018/19 season, albeit it ended in relegation for the Tractor Boys, before he spent the following season in the Championship once more with Huddersfield Town, making 79 second tier appearances in the process.

19 ? ? Jarrell Quansah

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In 20th is fellow centre-back, Jarrell Quansah, who currently plies his trade with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga after a £35m switch from Liverpool in July 2025.

However, the 23-year-old's spot on this list comes through a 16-game loan spell with Bristol Rovers in the second half of the 2022/23 League One season, where his performances drew plenty of praise from supporters and then-Gas boss, Joey Barton.

Months later, the defender made his first of 58 appearances for the Merseyside outfit under Jürgen Klopp, with the majority of those coming in the Reds' deep runs in the FA Cup, UEFA Europa League and EFL Cup, winning the latter in February 2024.

18 ? ? James Trafford

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The first of the three goalkeepers at Tuchel's disposal to make this list is James Trafford, who certainly made an impression throughout his previous spells in the EFL with Bolton Wanderers and Burnley.

Trafford spent over a year on loan with the Whites in League One and was a key reason behind their EFL Trophy triumph in April 2023, before his final game for the club came in the play-off semi-final loss to Barnsley one month later.

He was then signed by the Clarets for £19m after their promotion to the Premier League, but after finding it difficult to maintain form in the top-flight, the goalkeeper set a record for the most consecutive clean sheets in Championship history - 12 - as well as an overall total of 29.

This was enough to see him return to Manchester City, where he played another integral role in their EFL Cup and FA Cup victories in 2025/26, although his future remains uncertain.

17 ? ? Dan Burn

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Dan Burn is the second-oldest member of this 26-man squad, and his inclusion certainly garnered a mixed response after an underwhelming season for his club, Newcastle United.

That said, the 34-year-old's recent rise has certainly been well-documented, with the Geordie having to work his way up the pyramid before arriving at his hometown club in January 2022.

The 6'7" figure has over 200 EFL appearances for the likes of Fulham, Yeovil Town, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic, and even scored in a League One play-off final for the second of those clubs 13 years ago.

16 ? ? Djed Spence

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Djed Spence's inclusion was also met with intense discourse, and that has been showcased in the early matches of the tournament, with the full-back best known for his speed.

The 25-year-old entered the tournament with a broken jaw sustained playing for Tottenham Hotspur against Chelsea in May, and only made his England debut in September 2025.

In the EFL circle, Spence is best known for having 'back and forth' with his former Middlesbrough boss, Neil Warnock, who sanctioned a loan move for the defender to Nottingham Forest just under five years ago, before he helped the Midlands side achieve glory in the Championship play-offs.

15 ? ? Dean Henderson

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Dean Henderson's career has been one of relative success, especially at Crystal Palace, where he has won the FA Cup and UEFA Conference League.

At 29, he is currently Jordan Pickford's understudy, but much like the other two England goalkeepers at present, he can credit several EFL clubs for helping his rise up the pyramid.

The Cumbrian has featured for all of Grimsby Town, Shrewsbury Town and Sheffield United in the EFL, becoming a key member of the Blades' promotion-winning squad of 2018/19 under Chris Wilder at such a young age, before excelling in the Premier League.

14 ? ? Ivan Toney

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Ivan Toney's early career saw him sign for multiple sides in the EFL's lower reaches, such as Northampton Town, before eventually making a name for himself in a severely attack-minded Peterborough United side.

A record of 49 goals in 94 games at London Road was enough for Brentford to invest in a deal worth up to £10m in the striker, and it was worth such money alone as, for one season, the striker broke the Championship's individual goalscoring record as the Bees won the play-offs.

Toney was then influential in helping maintain their Premier League status under Thomas Frank, before he moved to Saudi Pro League side, Al-Ahli for £40m in 2024.

To his credit, the man best-known for his composure in penalty scenarios has still notched 73 goals in less than 100 outings for the club, but some have questioned whether Toney would have got close to such figures had he remained in the top-flight.

13 ? ? Jordan Henderson

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Jordan Henderson's only taste of EFL football came through a loan switch from Sunderland to Coventry City in the 2008/09 season, and although his career achievements have been well-documented, there is a strong school of thought that the 36-year-old potentially should have missed out on this World Cup squad.

The Brentford man made his Three Lions debut just under 16 years ago against France, and has been involved in seven major tournaments in the process. However, Tuchel opted to recall him back into the fold during his first international period in charge after he was omitted from the final squads of Southgate's tenure.

The one-time Premier League winner has been reduced to an impact role, though, and many believe the current boss should have looked towards the future by calling up Adam Wharton to a second successive tournament after his continued upward trajectory at Crystal Palace.

12 ? ? Eberechi Eze

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Next up is Arsenal playmaker, Eberechi Eze, who has enjoyed a fine upward trajectory which began at Queens Park Rangers in a professional sense.

The 27-year-old's journey has been well-documented, having endured trial rejections as a teenager to now winning the Premier League in his first season with the Gunners after also helping Crystal Palace win the FA Cup in 2025 with his winner against Manchester City.

However, many would hope there is still more to come from the midfielder as he enters his prime years for both club and country, having recently made headlines for his unfortunate penalty miss in Arsenal's UEFA Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest.

11 ? ? Anthony Gordon

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11th is Anthony Gordon, who, five years ago, had just concluded his solitary EFL loan experience with Preston North End from Everton.

The 25-year-old has been a part of the England setup for two-and-a-half years, and prior to the tournament, agreed a £69m switch to FC Barcelona from Newcastle United after a 17-goal season at St James' Park.

10 of those goals did come in the UEFA Champions League, and four were also against Qarabağ in a 6-1 victory in February, which has perhaps raised the bar in terms of his overall expectations.

That said, many would argue that the Liverpudlian is yet to match the same performance levels in an England shirt as he competes with Rashford for a starting berth on the left-wing.