Joel Ndala

Joel Ndala made his name at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he scored three goals in four appearances for England, including a winner against Iran, a penalty against Brazil and an equaliser against Uzbekistan. He had already been earmarked as one to watch: The Guardian listed him among the best first-year scholars in the Premier League the previous autumn.

Ndala joined Manchester City's academy in 2017 for a reported £300,000 after seven years at Port Vale, and signed his first professional contract with the club in July 2022. He collected a string of youth honours there — back-to-back U18 Premier League titles, back-to-back Premier League 2 crowns, the FA Youth Cup and the U18 Premier League Cup.

Instead his path ran through loans. Jong PSV took him for the 2024–25 season, then Nottingham Forest signed him for the second half of that campaign without using him in a competitive match. He debuted there in a 4–0 defeat to Swansea City and made eight appearances without scoring. The Wednesday loan was disrupted by discipline: he was dropped for the Millwall match after arriving late to a pre-match meeting, and further lateness over travel arrangements in April 2026 brought his loan to an early end.

At international level, Ndala has represented England through the U18s, where he won the Pinatar Super Cup, and made his U19 debut against Portugal in October 2024.