Jason Steele Earns Surprise England Call In Tuchel’s 35-Man Squad

Football fans across England woke up to a genuine shocker: Brighton’s 35-year-old backup goalkeeper Jason Steele has been named in Thomas Tuchel’s expanded 35-man England squad for the upcoming March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. It’s a twist no one saw coming—not even the most optimistic Brighton supporters. For Steele, who has quietly built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most reliable number two goalkeepers, this call-up marks a remarkable career milestone and a potential ticket to the 2026 World Cup in America.

Steele’s selection is all the more surprising given his lack of Premier League game time this season. In fact, he hasn’t played a single league minute for Brighton in the current campaign. Instead, the veteran has been the understudy to Dutch international Bart Verbruggen, stepping in only for cup matches. Despite that, his performances in those rare outings have clearly caught the attention of England’s new boss, Thomas Tuchel.

Steele’s journey to this point is nothing short of extraordinary. He began his professional career at Middlesbrough, followed by stints at Northampton, Blackburn Rovers, and Sunderland. Many fans will remember Steele from his tough spell at Sunderland, which was immortalized in the documentary Sunderland Till I Die. He was even labeled the “second-worst goalkeeper in Sunderland history” by the Roker Report, a tag that might have crushed a lesser character. But Steele persevered, rebuilding his confidence and reputation at Brighton after joining the Seagulls in 2018. Since then, he’s made 63 first team appearances, notching up an impressive 21 clean sheets for the club.

While he’s never played for the England senior team, Steele has worn national colors at every youth level and was part of Team GB’s squad at the 2012 London Olympics, albeit as an unused backup. He also boasts 34 age-group caps, including seven with the under-21s. Now, at 35, he’s finally getting his first taste of senior international football—proof that persistence and professionalism can pay off, even late in a career.

So, why has Tuchel called up a goalkeeper who hasn’t featured in the league all season? The answer lies in the unique demands of international tournaments. England typically brings four goalkeepers to the World Cup, and the fourth spot is a specialist role. As Tuchel explained, “Jason is a particular one because we are planning to take four goalkeepers to the World Cup and the fourth goalkeeper has a special role. So the three goalkeepers will compete and support each other for the matches. The fourth goalkeeper in the World Cup is then a specialist. He will support the goalkeeper group. He will support the goalkeeper coach. He will support a penalty-taking group and take a lot of workload off the other shoulders. That’s why we need an experienced guy.”

This approach is not just about on-field ability. It’s about chemistry, support, and experience—qualities Steele is said to bring in abundance. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler echoed this sentiment, praising Steele’s training ethic and readiness: “I also want to emphasise that we still have a great second goalkeeper, Jason Steele, who is also, though he's not playing in incredible shape. When I see him training every day it's just impressive, and every time we need him he's there. He showed really good performances in the FA Cup game, so therefore he's a really good candidate as well.”

Indeed, Steele’s performances in cup competitions this season have been a bright spot. He recorded clean sheets in the Carabao Cup against Oxford United and Barnsley, and was widely regarded as Brighton’s best player in a 2-1 FA Cup win over Manchester United. In that match, Steele made two outstanding saves in the opening ten minutes, setting the tone for a famous victory at Old Trafford. Such moments have solidified his reputation as a dependable backup, capable of rising to the occasion when called upon.

For the March internationals, England’s goalkeeping roster is stacked: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, Aaron Ramsdale, and James Trafford join Steele in the squad. Competition for actual playing time will be fierce, and, realistically, Steele’s chances of making his full international debut remain slim. Still, his presence is more about what he brings off the pitch—experience, leadership, and a steady hand during high-pressure training sessions. According to the Sussex Express, England intends to use Steele as the training goalkeeper during the 2026 World Cup, should he impress during this trial period.

Tuchel was clear about the nature of Steele’s inclusion: it’s a trial, not a guarantee. “No one is on the plane to America. He is now with us in the March camp. England has a history of taking four goalkeepers to the tournament, which makes absolute sense. We identified Jason to be a very, very good candidate for this role. We wanted to try it and the trial is now in the March camp,” said Tuchel.

The expanded 35-man squad is not just about the goalkeepers, of course. The list includes established names like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden, as well as rising stars and a few surprise omissions—most notably Brighton’s own 11-goal striker Danny Welbeck, whose absence could dash his World Cup hopes. But it’s Steele’s selection that has set tongues wagging, both for its unexpectedness and what it says about Tuchel’s approach to squad building.

Steele’s story is a testament to football’s unpredictability. Eight years ago, he arrived at Brighton as a third-choice keeper, a signing many assumed was just to satisfy homegrown quotas. Over time, he became a trusted member of the squad, even earning the favor of former boss Roberto De Zerbi, who often rotated him with Robert Sanchez and later with Verbruggen. That rotation ended when Hurzeler made Verbruggen his clear first choice, but Steele’s professionalism never wavered.

Now, with a World Cup on the horizon and England’s preparations in full swing, Steele finds himself on the brink of a new chapter. Whether he ultimately makes the trip to America or simply remains a valued squad member, his journey from Sunderland scapegoat to England hopeful is one to savor. For Steele, and for Brighton fans, it’s a feel-good story in a sport that rarely offers such late-career redemption arcs.

As England gears up for the March friendlies and the long road to the World Cup, all eyes will be on Tuchel’s squad—and on Jason Steele, the veteran backup who just might be the most important fourth-choice goalkeeper in the country. The action is just beginning, and Steele’s trial for a World Cup place is officially underway.