Former Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell is currently with England U-21s at the European Championships in Slovakia.
Toulouse spent £4 million to sign Cresswell from Leeds United and he has gone on to become a regular in the top flight of France off the back of just 135 minutes across five appearances in the 2023/24 Championship season — and 315 minutes of football in total.
Cresswell had a ‘dream’ of playing for Leeds but Farke didn’t fancy him when he had the likes of Pascal Struijk, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Liam Cooper ahead of Cresswell in the pecking order.
Cresswell is an interesting player who can combine things like old-school and old-fashioned physicality, as well as aerial prowess, with somewhat more modern ball-playing centre-back attributes.
Spain v England - Men's U21 International
Photo by Jesús Ruiz/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images
Charlie Cresswell praises Leeds and his family for his mentality
Joe Hart is impressed with Cresswell’s mentality in joining Toulouse in France. He has kicked on a level in his development in doing so. But scoring for England U-21s during their opening game was also another impressive feat in his 2024/25 season.
Such has been the standard of his performances at the tournament so far that many Leeds fans wish they had retained Cresswell. He has visibly been one of the leaders on the pitch, despite James McAtee and Harvey Elliott sharing the captaincy duties so far.
Speaking to journalist Henry Winter, Cresswell credited his education with Leeds as part of the reason for his leadership and mentality.
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Winter wrote: “Charlie Cresswell is proving one of England Under-21’s leaders and most vocal team members. Cresswell, who won the Euros in 2023, spoke candidly after the defeat by Germany…”
Cresswell said: “”I was saying to the lads ‘just smash into them’, ‘I don’t know you’re there’ and ‘let them know they’re in a game’. I just knew it wasn’t good enough from everyone, myself included.
“We just needed more fight, more determination. We can go press them high and get the ball back. We showed that in the second half, but we’ve got to take that into the next game.
“I said to the lads today, ‘You’re playing for England Under-21s, against Germany and next will be against Spain. It doesn’t get better than this’. We’ll look back on this time and want to live this point again so it’s important we stay right here right now and enjoy every moment.”
On being vocal he mentioned his Leeds education from the age of 11. “It’s the way I’ve been brought up. It was drilled in me since I was first starting football. Mainly by my dad and my mum.
“I’ve got three younger siblings, so being the oldest child plays its part. I’m the one they should be looking up to so it’s just trying to set an example for everyone.
“My dad always taught me that speaking will help me. So I speak and it helps others, but it also helps me. It helps make my job a lot easier. And if that comes off in a leadership manner then it is what it is.”
England v Austria - U21 International Friendly
Photo by Richard Pelham – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Charlie Cresswell transfer news as Sunderland emerge as an option
Now, Cresswell is being linked with Sunderland this summer. Leeds, fortunately, have a 15 percent sell-on clause to any Toulouse sale.
The giant defender is known for his aerial dominance, with Cresswell topping defensive metrics over PSG stars when it comes to his ability to win headers and duels consistently since his move to France from Leeds; it’s helped him bag a goal or two as well.
Team Appearances Goals Assists
Leeds United 14 0 0
Millwall 30 5 1
England U-21 23 3 1
Toulouse 34 4 2
Charlie Cresswell’s career stats
Cresswell proved with Millwall in the season prior that he is a capable scorer of goals for a defender, and one with a bright future in the game. Might Leeds eventually come to regret his early sale?