Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott received a surprise call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad on Friday. Scott has made 10 appearances for Bournemouth this season in the Premier League and has been a potential star for a number of years.
But although he is not yet a household name, he now has the chance to present his case for inclusion in England’s squad for next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
From Guernsey to Bristol
Scott was born on the Channel Island of Guernsey where he also played for his local club in the Isthmian League.
Having been released by Southampton at the age of 12 and interestingly turning down a contract offer from Bournemouth after spending a year at the club, Scott made his debut for Guernsey’s first team as a 16-year-old in August 2019. In doing so, he became the youngest player in the club’s history.
He joined Bristol City in 2020, signing his first professional contract in March 2021. During his time with Bristol City, he made 83 appearances, scoring five goals and was named the Championship’s Young Player of the Year for 2023 – ahead of Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, who was on loan at Sunderland at the time.
Bournemouth breakthrough
After impressing in the Second Division, Scott returned to Bournemouth for £25 million ($32.75 million).
Despite injury setbacks during his two years on the South Coast, including an MCL injury and a torn meniscus, he has regained fitness and earned the trust of head coach Andoni Iraola. Scott said in all but one of Bournemouth’s 10 Premier League matches this season, as Iraola’s side continue to punch above their weight.
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Have you played for England before?
Scott’s first call-up to the first team comes after progressing through the youth ranks in England.
He was part of the England teams that won the European Under-19 Championship in 2022 and the European Under-21 Championship in 2025. He scored England’s equalizer in the Euro 2022 Under-19 semi-final against Italy.
What is his best position?
Primarily a midfielder, Scott also played as a full-back during his time at Bristol City.
Scott’s versatility means Iraola has used him as a number 8 and number 10, where his high technical ability allows him to influence matches. Iraola’s demands at Bournemouth mean Scott is required to press aggressively from the front and the 22-year-old has shown plenty of acumen to do so.
Ryan Christie’s injury issues may have opened the door for Scott to start more games, but there is no doubt that this diverse skill set has been a huge boost to Bournemouth’s rise up the table.
Scott’s ability to cover different areas of the pitch has likely caught Tuchel’s attention as he looks to build a team that can handle the demands of a major international tournament.
What did the English Premier League coaches say about him?
Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola: “I think it was his first long period without injuries because he had two seasons with us, three different knee injuries. So it was always like a series of games and he would stop another three or four months and then another series of games.”
“And now I think he’s been playing at a good level, I would say since the European Championship when he was very important for England with the under-21s. He’s come to a really good place before pre-season. Very good preparation for the new season. And now I feel he’s enjoying playing and I hope we can give him that.”
Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola (After Manchester City beat Bristol City 3-0 in the 2019 FA Cup): “He (Scott) is an unbelievable, unbelievable player.”
Former Bristol City coach Nigel Pearson: “I think he will play for England and I think he will reach the top of the game.”
Will he become a regular in England?
Scott’s ability to cover different areas of the pitch has likely caught Tuchel’s attention as he looks to build a team that can handle the demands of a major international tournament.
His chances are hampered by the fact that England have a host of talented young midfielders including Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson competing for a place alongside Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
But if he can perform well this month against Serbia and Latvia, Scott could be able to make a late bid for a place on the board next summer.
