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Ben White called up for England friendlies
Arsenal defender Ben White will rejoin the England squad for the first time in over three years, manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed on Monday. The 27-year-old last represented his country in March 2022 before stepping away from international duty.
Why White left and his path back
White departed England's 2022 World Cup camp in Qatar due to personal reasons and subsequently made himself unavailable for selection under former manager Gareth Southgate. Reports indicated a disagreement with assistant coach Steve Holland contributed to his decision.
Southgate later attempted to reconcile with White through Arsenal's sporting director Edu, but the defender remained firm in his stance. The departure of Southgate and Holland after Euro 2024, however, shifted the landscape.
Tuchel's role in White's return
Tuchel, appointed England manager in early 2025, prioritized re-engaging White. In March 2025, the defender signaled his availability, and Tuchel planned to include him in May's fixtures against Andorra and Senegal. Family commitments and a September knee injury delayed his return until now.
White replaces injured Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah in Tuchel's 35-man squad for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay (27 March) and Japan (31 March) at Wembley.
White's club form and competition
Despite limited playing time at Arsenal this season-just seven Premier League appearances-White has featured in eight of the club's 10 Champions League matches, including the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City. Jurrien Timber remains Arsenal's first-choice right-back, but White's experience in Europe has kept him in contention.
Notable omissions
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been overlooked for the fourth consecutive England squad, celebrated Real Madrid's derby win over Atlético Madrid on Sunday with a social media post: "Madrid. And nothing else."
Six Arsenal players will miss the friendlies due to international duty, further thinning Tuchel's options.
What's next
White's inclusion marks a potential turning point for England's defense. His performance in the upcoming matches will determine whether his long-awaited return justifies the wait.
