West Ham United Academy striker Josh Ajala has received his first England U20s call-up for their upcoming international friendly against Japan on Friday 14 November (7.30pm GMT) at Doncaster Rovers' Eco-Power Stadium.
Ajala will join Academy teammates Lewis Orford and Fin Herrick for the November camp at England’s national football centre, St George’s Park.
The 18-year-old previously represented England for the first time last year in the U19s age group, playing three friendly fixtures in September 2024 against Italy, Croatia and Germany.
Ajala has scored three goals in five games for West Ham since returning from an early-season injury which ruled him out for two months.
The young striker was the young Hammers’ top goalscorer across the U18s and U21s age-groups last season, scoring 21 goals. He ended the U18s’ Premier League Cup title-winning season as the competition’s top marksman with seven goals, including the all-important brace in the final at Reading.
Reflecting on his first England camp with the U19s last season and looking ahead to future opportunities with the Young Lions, Ajala said: “My youth international debut was such a proud moment. We travelled to Croatia, and I played against Germany, Italy and Croatia.
“It’s something I’d been dreaming of. I want to play at the highest possible level and playing internationally is obviously part of that. I was so grateful to represent my country. This season my goal was to keep scoring and keep playing, which hopefully will lead to more England call-ups.”