Gareth Southgate's England squad made history on Wednesday night, beating the Netherlands to reach a major final on foreign soil for the first time.

Although all of Southgate's players will be fighting for the same cause in Sunday's Euro 2024 final, they have all come from different footballing backgrounds to get to where they are today. One thing that all 26 have in common, however, is involvement in EFL competition. 

Across the squad, they have played a total of 2,128 combined appearances in EFL competitions, 1,748 of which were divisional appearances. 

Whether it's in the Championship, League One, League Two, the Bristol Street Motors Trophy or the Carabao Cup, every single player in the squad has an EFL story to tell. Here, we take an in-depth look at how each player in the squad has featured in EFL competition across 25 different current EFL Clubs.:

Jordan Pickford

(106 appearances in EFL competitions)

Pickford began his career with a flurry of loans in the EFL, playing for four Clubs across all three divisions. His stints at Burton Albion, Carlisle, Bradford and Preston gave him the foundations to return to Sunderland in the Premier League and establish himself as the number one there.

The goalkeeper's EFL debut came for Burton Albion in August 2013, a 2-2 draw against Cheltenham Town.

Aaron Ramsdale

(46 appearances in EFL competitions)

Similarly to Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale has featured in all three EFL divisions throughout his career. Coming through at Bolton and then Sheffield United, Ramsdale had loans with Chesterfield and AFC Wimbledon in League One and League Two respectively. He then played a handful of games in the Championship for the Blades before signing for Bournemouth. 

Dean Henderson

(107 appearances in EFL competitions)

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson is a product of the Carlisle United academy, although he did not feature professionally for the Cumbrian side and joined Manchester United in 2015.

From there, he was loaned out to the EFL on multiple occasions, playing for Grimsby Town, Shrewsbury Town and Sheffield United. He played every game of Sheffield United's promotion winning season in 2018/19, winning the Club's Young Player of the Season award as the Blades returned to the top-flight. 

Kyle Walker

(87 appearances in EFL appearances)

The electric Kyle Walker is another of the England players that came through the ranks at Sheffield United, a Club he also returned to on loan after signing permanently for Tottenham Hotspur. The full-back's first taste of professional football came on loan at Northampton Town, as he made nine League One appearances in 2008/09.

Walker was also a part of the Queens Park Rangers team that won the Championship Title in 2010/11, making 20 league appearances for the Hoops. 

In his illustrious career, the Manchester City captain has won four EFL Cups, all under Pep Guardiola whilst at City and most recently in the 2020/21 season.

Kieran Trippier

(202 appearances in EFL competitions)

With 174 Championship appearances to his name, Kieran Trippier is vastly experienced at EFL level. Whilst at Manchester City, he was loaned out to Barnsley and Burnley to gain valuable game-time.

As a Claret, he was a pivotal player from the right-back position and played a key role in their promotion to the Premier League in 2014/15. Trippier's form was recognised as he was named in the Championship Team of the Season in consecutive years. 

Luke Shaw

(14 appearances in EFL competitions)

Luke Shaw's sole involvements in EFL competitions have come via the EFL Cup, a trophy he has won twice with Manchester United. 

He made his debut in the competition for Southampton, a 4-1 win away at Stevenage in 2012, and it was against his former Club that he won the Cup for the first time with United. More recently, Shaw won the cup for the second time as Man United beat Newcastle 2-0 in the 2022/23 final. He provided the assist for the opening goal, a free-kick headed home by Casemiro. 

Joe Gomez

(38 appearances in EFL competitions)

A product of Charlton Athletic's highly successful academy, Joe Gomez broke into the first-team set-up at the Valley in 2013/14, making 21 appearances before signing for Liverpool. 

He also has 17 appearances in the EFL Cup and has won the competition twice with Liverpool. Both final victories came against Chelsea, including in the 2023/24 season.  Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp labelled the win as his most special trophy he's ever won. 

John Stones

(48 appearances in EFL competitions)

For multiple Premier League and Champions League winner John Stones, it all began in the EFL. The Barnsley-born defender came through at the Tykes and impressed, making 22 Championship appearances in his first full season.

His form for Barnsley saw him earn a move to Everton, and from there to Manchester City. Similarly to Kyle Walker, Stones is a four-times EFL Cup winner with City.  He was named as the Player of the Match in the 2020/21 final, a 1-0 win against Tottenham. 

Marc Guehi

(71 appearances in EFL competitions)

Centre-back Marc Guehi had two extremely impressive loan spells in the EFL between January 2020 and June 2021, both with Swansea City.

After impressing in his half-season with the Swans in 2019/20, he returned to the Liberty Stadium for the full duration of 2020/21 and was an ever-present figure in the heart of defence. Guehi helped guide Swansea to the Championship Play-Off Final, receiving the Player of the Match award in both semi-finals against Barnsley. The Swans went on to lose the final to Brentford. 

Ezri Konsa

(134 appearances in EFL competitions)

Like Joe Gomez, Ezri Konsa is another product of the Charlton Athletic academy that has seen so many young players blossom. He started playing regularly for the Addicks in the 2016/17 season and made 71 appearances in League One for the Club. 

His ball-playing abilities attracted him to Brentford and he signed for the Bees in 2018, staying for just one season before stepping up into the Premier League with Aston Villa. 

Lewis Dunk

(187 appearances in EFL competitions)

Brighton and Hove Albion stalwart Lewis Dunk has been with the Seagulls for 14 years, leading them from the EFL all the way to Europa League. The highlight of his career in the EFL was undoubtedly the promotion to the Premier League in 2016/17, with Dunk playing a key role. 

Dunk also had a short spell at Bristol City in 2013/14, making just two appearances. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold

(8 appearances in EFL competitions)

Liverpool playmaker Trent Alexander-Arnold made his professional debut in the EFL Cup, starting in the Club 's 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2016/17 season.

Alexander-Arnold has gone on to win the competition twice, in 2021/22 and 2023/24. The versatile player scored his penalty in the dramatic shootout against Chelsea, which Liverpool eventually won 11-10. 

Declan Rice

(13 appearances in EFL competitions)

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice first tasted professional football in the EFL Trophy, making his debut for West Ham U23s in a 4-2 defeat against Coventry back in 2016. 

Rice added a further two appearances in the competition with West Ham U23s, and has featured 10 times in the EFL Cup for both West Ham first team and Arsenal. 

Adam Wharton

(54 appearances in EFL competitions)

The sudden rise of Adam Wharton has been one of the stories of the season, as he went from Blackburn Rovers in the Championship to the European Championship within six months.

Wharton only made his professional debut for Blackburn in August 2022, a 4-0 win in the EFL Cup against Hartlepool. Since then, he has continued to develop and show his class on a weekly basis. The 20 year-old signed for Crystal Palace in January 2024 and was introduced into the England set-up after the season finished.

Fans across the country are already sitting up and noticing his elegance in the centre of the park, as Blackburn Rovers fans would attest to. 

Conor Gallagher

(61 appearances in EFL competitions)

Industrious midfielder Conor Gallagher made his professional debut for Chelsea U23 in the EFL Trophy back in September 2018 and has continued to rise since then.

Successive loans at Charlton Athletic and Swansea City highlighted Gallagher's clear abilities, noticeable immediately in his loan at Charlton as he was named as August Young Player of the Month in the Championship. 

Kobbie Mainoo

(5 appearances in EFL competitions)

In a similar vein to Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo burst onto the scene in the 2023/24 season and impressed on a consistent basis for Manchester United. 

The midfielder made his professional debut in the EFL Trophy for Manchester United U23s in a 2-1 win away at Carlisle United. Mainoo has also played a further three games in the competition, and made his EFL Cup debut last season against Newcastle United. 

Jude Bellingham

(42 appearances in EFL competitions)

For Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham, it all began at Fratton Park on the 6 August 2019. Bellingham made his professional debut in football for Birmingham City in a 2-1 EFL Cup defeat against Portsmouth, and things have gone from pillar to post ever since. 

Although he only featured for Birmingham in one season, the impact he made in the side was extraordinary for a 17 year-old. Jude played with real maturity and way beyond his age, winning the Young Player of the Season as just rewards for his efforts.

Since his departure, Bellingham has won the German Cup, La Liga and the Champions League in what has been a glittering start to his career. The decision made by Birmingham City to retire his #22 shirt looks a better one with every passing minute. 

Phil Foden

(21 appearances in EFL competitions)

All of Phil Foden's appearances in EFL competitions have come in the EFL Cup, a competition he has had a lot of success in over the years.  

Scoring five goals and assisting seven along the way, Foden has tasted success on four occasions in the cup with Manchester City. His domestic debut came in the competition too, the Quarter-Final of 2017/18 which Man City won on penalties against Leicester. 

Foden's first goal in professional football came in the EFL Cup, scoring in a 3-0 win against Oxford United. 

Bukayo Saka

(13 appearances in EFL competitions)

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is another of the starlets named in this England squad that made their professional debuts in the EFL Trophy. Saka came for Arsenal U21s in October 2018, ending in a 6-2 defeat against Cheltenham Town. 

For Saka, it all started at the Watford academy. The 22 year-old left the Hornets at the age of seven and has been with Arsenal ever since. He has gone on to make nine appearances in the EFL Cup for the Gunners. 

Cole Palmer

(15 appearances in EFL competitions)

Chelsea's top-scorer from the 2023/24 season made his professional debut for Man City U21 in the EFL Trophy. Cole Palmer started in a 2-1 victory away at Bradford City in September 2020, and played a further two times in the competition before breaking into the Man City first team.

Despite having an incredible season for Chelsea, Palmer was on the losing side in the EFL Cup final of 2023/24, agonisingly missing out on his first silverware in a Chelsea shirt. 

Anthony Gordon

(23 appearances in EFL competitions)

Electric winger Anthony Gordon spent the second-half of the 2020/21 season on loan at Preston North End in the Championship, making 11 appearances in the second tier whilst at Deepdale. 

Elsewhere, Gordon has experience in the EFL Trophy and EFL Cup from his time at Everton. The 23 year-old scored in a wonderful goal for Everton U21 in the Trophy against Mansfield Town back in 2019. 

Ebererchi Eze

(32 appearances in EFL competitions)

The form of Eberechi Eze in the back end of the 2023/24 season saw England fans across the country crying out for his inclusion in the squad for the Euros. 

Those who support Wycombe Wanderers and Queens Park Rangers will know exactly what the tricky attacking-midfielder is all about. 

For QPR in particular, Eze had fans at Loftus Road on the edge of their seats with his unique, entertaining play-style. He contributed to 33 goals in 104 Championship games while at the Hoops. 

Jarrod Bowen

(139 appearances in EFL competitions)

Goalscoring wide-man Jarrod Bowen began his career at local Club Hereford United in non-league, before moving onto Hull City after impressing from a young age. 

He made his professional debut in the EFL Cup for the Tigers, coming in a 3-1 win away at Exeter City. Whilst with Hull, Bowen scored a plethora of goals. Twenty-two strikes in the 2018/19 Championship season saw him named in the Team of the Season.

An equally strong start to the following season saw him move to West Ham in January 2020, leaving Hull after scoring 52 times in the league for them. 

Harry Kane

(77 appearances in EFL competitions)

England captain and talisman Harry Kane began his career with several loan spells in the EFL. It all started at Leyton Orient back in 2010/11, scoring five times in 18 appearances. 

The prolific forward then had stints at Millwall and Leicester City in the Championship, showing signs of his instinctive finishing. He was named as Millwall's Young Player of the Season in 2012 after helping them avoid the drop to League One. 

Ollie Watkins

(231 appearances in EFL competitions)

The story of Ollie Watkins is one which can inspire young forwards across the country, epitomising the idea that hard work can lead you to the very top. 

Watkins fought to break into the Exeter City team and lit up League Two in 2016/17, scoring 15 times and assisting 11 to earn himself the EFL Young Player of the Season award. 

The 28 year-old continued to develop upon his move to Brentford in the Championship and had three terrific seasons there, scoring 45 league goals before moving onto Premier League side Aston Villa. 

Ivan Toney

(254 appearances in EFL competitions)

Last but not least is Ivan Toney, the player in the squad that has played for the most Clubs in the EFL. 

From making his debut at hometown Club Northampton Town to breaking the Championship goalscoring record with Brentford, Toney is vastly experienced across all three EFL divisions and has worked his way into the England set-up.

The Brentford striker also had loan spells at Barnsley, Shrewsbury, Scunthorpe and Wigan, as well as a hugely successful permanent spell at Peterborough. Whilst in the EFL, Toney won the League One title, the League One Play-Offs, the EFL Trophy and the Championship Play-Offs.