Derby, England – A shadow of concern has been cast over England's 3-0 victory against Australia, as Lionesses' rising star Michelle Agyemang was stretchered off the pitch following a worrying knee injury. The incident occurred in the late stages of the friendly match at Pride Park on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, leaving fans and teammates anxious about the severity of the setback.
Agyemang, who had entered the game as a substitute for Alessia Russo in the 62nd minute, went down just 13 minutes later, with what appeared to be a non-contact injury to her knee. The 19-year-old's distress was immediately evident, prompting her teammates to call for urgent medical assistance. Fellow substitutes Alex Greenwood and Esme Morgan were quick to offer support and comfort. Beth Mead, who has previously recovered from an ACL injury, also offered support. Agyemang was eventually taken off on a stretcher, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd as she left the pitch. She was replaced by Chloe Kelly.
England's head coach, Sarina Wiegman, expressed her concern during a post-match interview with ITV. "That looked horrible," Wiegman said. "When you are stretchered off, it's not nice anyway, but it doesn't look good". Wiegman confirmed that she had not yet received an update on Agyemang's condition.
Adding to England's injury woes, Aggie Beever-Jones also left the field with a limp shortly after Agyemang's injury. With no substitutions remaining, England was forced to finish the match with ten players.
The victory, which saw goals from Aggie Beever-Jones, Lucy Bronze and a late penalty from Georgia Stanway, was somewhat overshadowed by the injury concerns. Alanna Kennedy's early red card also impacted the game. Kennedy was sent off for pulling down Alessia Russo.
Agyemang's injury is a concern for both England and her club, Brighton & Hove Albion, where she is currently on loan from Arsenal. She was named Euro 2025 Young Player of the Tournament.
The Lionesses were looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Brazil in their previous friendly. Wiegman had emphasized the need for her team to be more physical and quicker in their decision-making following the loss. While the victory against Australia provided some relief, the injuries to Agyemang and Beever-Jones have tempered the positive result.
The match was played in front of a sold-out crowd of 33,500 at Pride Park, which was hosting its first women's international game.
