Immense Aaron Ramsey ‘still has lot to offer’ says Craig Bellamy as 34-year-old named in latest Wales squad

Aaron Ramsey has been named in Wales’ latest 26-man squad to face England and Belgium with manager Craig Bellamy insisting he still has a lot to offer to the national side.

The 34-year-old midfielder returns to the national side for the first time since completing his move to Mexico, where he joined Pumas UNAM.

Also recalled are Jay Dasilva, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Nathan Broadhead, all of whom were unavailable in the previous international window due to injury.

Despite being announced in the squad, Leeds United forward Daniel James is a doubt for the upcoming camp following unconfirmed reports of an injury.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies, who has captained the side in the absence of Ramsey could also reach a century of caps for Wales if he features in both fixtures.

Bellamy’s side begin the camp with a historic clash against England at Wembley, reigniting international football’s oldest rivalry.

The fixture, first played in November 1879 at London’s Kennington Oval, will mark the first meeting between the two nations since September 2011, when Gary Speed’s Wales narrowly lost 1-0 in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

Four days later, attention turns to a pivotal 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Belgium at the Cardiff City Stadium. In June’s reverse fixture in Brussels, Wales produced a spirited fightback from three goals down before ultimately falling 4-3.

Cymru currently sit third in Group J, one point adrift of North Macedonia and level with Belgium, who hold a game in hand. The group winners will qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the runners-up entering the play-offs alongside other second-placed teams and selected Nations League sides.

A strong travelling contingent of 6,500 members of the Red Wall will head to Wembley, before Bellamy’s side return to Cardiff to face Belgium in front of a sell-out crowd, with tickets snapped up in just 24 hours.

Bellamy speaks on why Aaron Ramsey has been selected

Aaron Ramsey is in line to make his first Wales appearance since September 2024, when he featured for 10 minutes in a 2-1 away win over Montenegro.

Manager Craig Bellamy admitted that concerns over Ramsey’s match fitness have limited his involvement since taking charge, but believes the 34-year-old is now finding his rhythm following his move to South America.

“He’s fit, I haven’t had that luxury with him,” said Bellamy at the squad announcement press conference on Tuesday ahead of the fixtures.

“When I look back at the first game against Turkey he was immense, he has the brain thats never going to go, we have legs in and around him that could really benefit from his type of profile.

“What I’ve seen is a player fit who still has a lot to offer, definitely has a lot to offer in how we play. He’s a player I massively admire and he still has a lot to offer us.”

Wales squad

Karl DARLOW (Leeds United), Adam DAVIES (Sheffield United), Tom KING (Everton), Ben DAVIES (Tottenham Hotspur), Jay DASILVA (Coventry City), Chris MEPHAM (West Bromwich Albion), Ben CABANGO (Swansea City), Joe RODON (Leeds United), Dylan LAWLOR (Cardiff City), Neco WILLIAMS (Nottingham Forest), Ronan KPAKIO (Cardiff City), Ethan AMPADU (Leeds United), Josh SHEEHAN (Bolton Wanderers), Jordan JAMES (Leicester City, on loan from Stade Rennais), Liam CULLEN (Swansea City), Joel COLWILL (Cardiff City), Harry WILSON (FULHAM), Nathan BROADHEAD (Wrexham), Sorba THOMAS (Stoke City), Lewis KOUMAS (Birmingham City, on loan from Liverpool), Mark HARRIS (Oxford United), Kieffer MOORE (Wrexham), Aaron RAMSEY (Pumas UNAM), Brennan JOHNSON (Tottenham Hotspur), Daniel JAMES (Leeds United), David BROOKS (Bournemouth).