After signing her first professional contract with the Gunners back in May, the 18-year-old is now helping Brighton bid for a Champions League spot
When England's final international break of 2024 ended this week with just one goal scored across two games, it was understandable that Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman was asked if this return concerned her. The centre-forward position is one of those in the team that really lacks depth, something exposed more by the fact that it doesn't feel as if Alessia Russo's strengths have been maximised in the system as of late. That is an issue for Wiegman to solve right now, particularly ahead of England's European title defence next summer.
Further down the line, though, there are reasons for fans of the Lionesses to believe that lack of depth up front will not be a problem. That's because there are a number of exciting centre-forwards coming through, with Michelle Agyemang prime among them.
Getty ImagesWhere it all began
Agyemang is a lifelong Arsenal fan and joined the club's academy at the age of six, rising through the ranks to make her debut for the first team at 16 years old, back in the 2022-23 season.
After being in and around the senior side throughout that campaign, she then joined Watford on loan a year later, scoring five goals in 10 games in all competitions. The young striker credits that spell in the Championship with teaching her how to be "resilient" as well as showing her the "value" of "three points" and of "working hard", with the Hornets embroiled in a relegation battle.
Away from the club level, Agyemang also made significant progress in the England set-up, with her playing for the Under-23s for the first time, aged 18, back in October, after impressing in the younger age groups and racking up plenty of goals.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe big break
Agyemang has been known as an exciting prospect for a while now, as is understandable with someone who made their Arsenal debut at 16, but it was with the Young Lionesses that she first really made a statement that caught real attention. When England's U17s went to their UEFA Championship in 2023, it'd been a few years since that age group had something to properly shout about, having suffered group-stage elimination in 2019 and, after the 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, failed to qualify for the tournament in 2022.
However, with Agyemang leading the line for a very talented generation coming through, England made it to the semi-finals in Estonia. Four group-stage goals from the teenager were vital in getting them there, with two coming in a 2-1 win over Poland and another brace helping the Young Lionesses to a 3-1 victory over Sweden.
Spain would score two late goals to win that semi-final, but Agyemang's exploits caught the attention of women's football fans at home and only added to the hype around her.
Getty ImagesHow it's going
Having signed a professional contract at Arsenal back in May, Agyemang is now enjoying her first loan spell in the Women's Super League, at Brighton for the 2024-25 season. The Seagulls are playing an exciting style of football under new head coach Dario Vidosic, and their 18-year-old forward has been a regular substitute through the first seven weeks of the season, opening her account for the club in October with a clinical strike against Aston Villa.
Most notably, Agyemang's game time is often coming on the left of a front three, in a 3-4-3 system. It means there's more emphasis on her from a defensive point of view when compared to the role of a No.9, but she is taking to that well, not shying away from tracking runners while also growing to understand how to be a threat in the box in the space she occupies.
Getty ImagesBiggest strengths
Described by former Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall as having tactical, technical and physical capabilities that "outmatches players at U17 level", it's no surprise that Agyemang has been able to make an impact at senior level. She's strong, which is important for a teenager just starting to come into first-team football, meaning she can compete with this new level of opponent, and that lays the foundation for the rest of her game to shine.
As an Arsenal academy product, Agyemang is remarkably skilled with the ball at her feet. It's something that is becoming increasingly apparent at Brighton especially, where she picks the ball up in more space than she would normally when playing as a No.9, and that is helping her to create shooting chances on her own at times, as well as being able to get into the box to attack crosses from the other side.
When she gets that service, her goal-scoring instincts are immediately apparent. Whether it's reacting quickly in the area or finishing one-on-one – she has great speed and powerful running ability when put through on goal – Agyemang is a natural goal-scorer.
