Ethan Ampadu has been included in the 26-man squad to represent Wales at this summer’s delayed Euro 2020 tournament.
Wales manager Robert Page announced his squad in four batches today, following the completion of the Championship play-offs, where several potential players were involved for beaten finalists Swansea City.
Versatile youngster Ampadu was included in the first group of six names to be officially announced, having previously been included in their provisional shortlist of players for a training camp.
The 20-year-old has been an ever-present for Wales recently despite his young age and was a key part of the team which sealed qualification for Euro 2020 by finishing second in a group which also included Mateo Kovacic’s Croatia.
Ampadu has only missed one of Wales’ competitive fixtures since 2018, featuring mainly at centre-back in a defensive three for the national team, being part of the side which kept five consecutive clean sheets to go unbeaten throughout their 2020/21 Nations League campaign.
He spent this season on loan at Sheffield United, where he made 25 Premier League appearances, being used mostly in midfield by the Blades.
Ampadu and his Wales team-mates will continue preparations for Euro 2020 with friendlies against France on 2 June and Albania three days later, having already beaten Mexico 1-0 on Thursday.
The Chelsea youngster will be hopeful of being named in the starting line-up when Wales open their tournament against Switzerland on 12 June, before facing Turkey four days later and finishing their group stage fixtures against Italy on 20 June.
The first two of those matches will both be played in the Baku Olympic Stadium, where Ampadu was among the Chelsea substitutes as we beat Arsenal in the 2019 Europa League final.
Wales were the surprise package of the last European Championship in 2016, when they knocked out Belgium on their way to reaching the semi-finals on their Euros debut, before being eliminated by eventual winners Portugal.
Wales’ Euro 2020 squad in full
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace), Danny Ward (Leicester City), Adam Davies (Stoke City)
Defenders: Chris Gunter (Charlton Athletic), Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur), Connor Roberts (Swansea City), Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea), Chris Mepham (Bournemouth), Joe Rodon (Tottenham Hotspur), James Lawrence (St Pauli), Neco Williams (Liverpool), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United), Ben Cabango (Swansea City)
Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey (Juventus), Joe Allen (Stoke City), Jonny Williams (Cardiff City), Harry Wilson (Liverpool), Daniel James (Manchester United), David Brooks (Bournemouth), Joe Morrell (Luton Town), Matt Smith (Manchester City), Dylan Levitt (Manchester United), Rubin Colwill (Cardiff City)
Forwards: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Kieffer Moore (Cardiff City), Tyler Roberts (Leeds United)