Sophie Ingle returns as Wales’ Euro 2025 squad is announced

Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson has announced her squad for Euro 2025 on top of Yr Wyddfa, and former captain Sophie Ingle has been selected.

Ingle, who will leave Chelsea when her contract expires, hasn’t played a game of football since suffering an ACL injury in a preseason game against Feyenoord in August 2024, but she is back in the Wales fold for their first ever major tournament.

Wilkinson throughout the Nations League campaign has been coy on whether Ingle would make the final 23-player roster, but she explained why she selected the veteran despite her lack of game time.

“We needed to make sure that Sophie was in a good place. She’s still on her path to full fitness, but she’s in a position now where she can contribute and that’s important for us. There’s a really great mix in this squad, which is exciting for me, and equally, the Welsh public.

“I don’t want to get into the playing time expectations for Sophie because she is pushing and she is looking really good in training. She made me look foolish yesterday and that’s probably a sign that I shouldn’t take part in training anymore! Sophie has to be able to contribute at some stage, that was the prerequisite I had, and when she was able to meet that, she was in.”

Elsewhere, Poppy Soper has been selected as the third goalkeeper in the squad, while Sheffield United defender Esther Morgan also makes the final 23.

Amongst the names to miss out include Sunderland’s Mary McAteer, Bristol City’s Tianna Teisar, and Manchester United’s Mared Griffiths.

For Wilkinson, the process of selecting the squad and making difficult phone calls was tough, and she has a lot of sympathy for those who have helped Wales get to Switzerland but won’t be part of the Euros squad.

Who can Cardiff City face in the Champions League?

“This process has felt a little heavy for me. We all know that when you have those big decisions looming, and you know you’re going to hurt someone, it’s not a nice part of the job. I’ve spoken about that pretty openly. To be a football manager is the dream job, I know how lucky I am, but that is the worst part.

“For these women, playing in a major tournament is their dream. One opinion matters and it happens to be mine, and I have to make a choice. It’s how you make sure they don’t lose their confidence in this moment, because they can all push on in the future.”

The team will be captained in Switzerland by Angharad James.

All of the players called up to the squad have their journeys and tales to tell, but for James, to sacrifice so much moving from West Wales as a youngster and move to a club like Arsenal and to go on to have had the career she’s had is inspirational, and Wilkinson is proud the Seattle Reign midfielder will lead the team.

“Angharad has been fantastic. I did make it hard at the beginning because everyone was asking questions about the captaincy and I wanted to take my time with it. Angharad was one of the obvious choices, but I didn’t know her, and she didn’t know me, and you have to have a good relationship with your captain.

“We had to get to know each other, and since naming her as captain, she’s really stepped up in her leadership. When things are tough, I’ll always look to Angharad, as well as our vice-captains Hayley and Ceri.”

There’s just over two weeks to go until Wales take on The Netherlands in Luzern in their opening game of Euro 2025, and with excitement building, Wilkinson is certain at least one of her players will conjure up something special and become a potential superstar.

“For large parts of our League A campaign we were without Sophie Ingle and Jess Fishlock. Not long ago you’d think you would struggle. That has only given other players chances to step up and deliver, and we’ve seen that across the board.

“Every player that we’ve put on the field has done more than enough. I’ve never been let down by a young player. Someone will surprise me, surprise us and will take that moment, and that’s exciting because we don’t know who that will be yet.”

WALES SQUAD FOR EURO 2025

Olivia Clark (Leicester City), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), Poppy Soper (Unattached)

Charlie Estcourt (DC Power), Gemma Evans (Liverpool), Josie Green (Crystal Palace), Hayley Ladd (Everton), Esther Morgan (Sheffield United), Ella Powell (Bristol City), Rhiannon Roberts (Unattached), Lily Woodham (Seattle Reign)

Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Alice Griffiths (Unattached), Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Sophie Ingle (Chelsea), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (Newcastle United) Rachel Rowe (Southampton)

Kayleigh Barton (Unattached), Hannah Cain (Leicester City), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrköping), Ffion Morgan (Bristol City)

(Featured Image: Ashley Crowden/FAW)