OFF THE RECORD WITH MICHELLE AGYEMANG

Published: 01/12/2025 | Written By: Alex Courbat

From ball girl at Wembley in 2022 to scoring last-minute clinchers in the Euros this summer, Michelle Agyemang’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. At just 19, she’s changing games for England, studying business at university, and still finds time to play music. So, no – football was never, and is never going to be, the full story for Michelle. To better understand the young star, we sat down with her to talk music, mindset, and… how she first got started with football. 

Michelle Agyemang is used to being close to the action – but this summer in Switzerland, she became the action. At just 19, the young striker became one of England’s breakout stars at the European Championship in Switzerland, stepping up in the biggest moments with a kind of calm confidence that felt well beyond her years. 

Take the quarter-final against Sweden. She came off the bench and, within minutes, scored a crucial equaliser in the 81st minute. England went on to win it on penalties. Then, just days later in the semi-final against Italy, with the Lionesses on the brink of elimination, Michelle popped up again – this time in stoppage time, 96 minutes on the clock – to net a dramatic leveller. Chloe Kelly would go on to seal the win, but it was Michelle who kept the dream alive for a whole nation. Not bad for someone who only made her senior England debut a few months earlier. 

In such a short space of time, she’s become the kind of player who can change a game the moment she steps onto the pitch. Even when her minutes are limited, her impact isn’t. It’s no wonder Sarina Wiegman trusts Michelle to bring something different – because whenever she’s on, something happens. But while her rise might seem meteoric, football hasn’t always been her only calling. In fact, it wasn’t even the first sport she fell in love with. 

Before she was scoring goals for club and country, Michelle was chasing another kind of ball. A small, yellow one. For about a year, every Thursday after school, she’d head to tennis lessons with friends – no real ambition to make Wimbledon, just enjoying the game and the chance to compete. Football? Already in her life, but for it to become a career wasn’t some carefully mapped-out plan. It was more organic than that. Her dad was coaching a local team, her brother was already playing, and Michelle was the younger sibling tagging along. One day, she joined in. That was it. She loved it. And from there, the love kept on growing, and she just never stopped. 

After this summer, sure, the expectations have changed. But that hasn’t slowed Michelle down one bit. Even with her career taking off and everyone starting to know her name, she’s still making time for the parts of herself that existed long before the goals and the headlines. Like music. 

She started with guitar in primary school, then learned the piano around age 13, mostly playing at church. Since then, she’s taught herself to play bass guitar and even gave drums a try – though she laughs now, admitting it’s been a while. For Michelle, music is a way to take a break from football, coursework work or whatever life throws at her. “Sometimes it’s nice to just forget about football for a bit,” she says. “I’ll head back to my room, play piano, relax, unwind, and get ready for the next day.” 

After the tournament, her fellow instrumentalists at her church surprised her with a Marcus Miller bass guitar as a congratulatory gift – something that meant a lot to her. All she needs now is a small amp so she can plug in properly, whether at home or during Sunday service. Because faith is a constant in her life. It’s woven into her music, her mindset, and her routines. When she’s back in London – usually every other week, depending on her schedule – she heads to church and plays. As the world around her moves faster and gets louder, Michelle never loses sight of what matters most: her values, her community, her faith – the things that were there when she was just getting started and will still be there when she eventually hangs up her boots. 

Her days might be full, but still, somehow, she finds time for one more thing: university. Michelle is studying business management at King’s College London. Between lectures, work, travel, and training, she’s balancing an elite sporting career with higher education – a task most would find overwhelming. But for her, it’s another piece of the puzzle that just fits and makes her complete. “I’ve always enjoyed studying,” she says, like it’s the most normal thing in the world. “It’s just kind of part of my life doing GCSE and A levels before” Of course, it’s not always easy – she’s the first one to admit that – but with the support of her club and her uni, she’s making it work. 

That quiet drive is something that defines her. She’s not fuelled by ego or attention. Instead, she’s guided by a mindset shaped by family, faith, and a hunger to improve. “No one’s reached the top, top, top,” she says. “There’s always areas to improve. I always want to work hard, and I think that’s kind of been instilled in me from a young age.” 

It’s the kind of perspective that makes her a role model already. And she knows young players are watching. They see her now – stepping up for England, scoring under pressure, making her mark – and they dream of doing the same. Her advice to them? Simple: be confident, be yourself and most importantly – enjoy it! “Sport is supposed to be fun,” she says. “Even when it’s professional, you’re still supposed to enjoy it. That’s when you play your best – when you’re having fun and being yourself.” 

Michelle Agyemang is a footballer, a student, a musician, a daughter, a teammate – and proof that you don’t need to have it all mapped out to begin. She’s tried tennis and still plays the drums and guitar. Some things clicked, others didn’t. But she never let the fear of starting something new stop her from…starting! 

Because that’s how she’s figured out what matters most – by showing up, trying things, and seeing where they lead. Her journey is a reminder that you can stay grounded, be curious, and still aim high. Whether she’s playing piano, studying for class, or scoring goals on some of football’s biggest stages, Michelle brings the same calm determination to it all. She’s still just getting started. And so can you. Try something new. Back yourself. You don’t have to be ready – you just have to give it a go and see where it takes you