The ex-Blackpool, Everton and Wigan Athletic man searching for a new club this summer seven years on from World Cup win- and his notable teammates with two in Gareth Southgate's squad

After joining the Seasiders in 2021, the 26-year-old went on to make 108 appearances for the club- scoring four goals during that time.

In the early stages of his professional career, Connolly was part of the England squad that won the U20 World Cup in South Korea, with the final taking place on this day (June 11) in 2017.

At the time, the defender was with Everton, and had already represented his country at a number of other age groups, as well as picking up senior experience on loan with Barnsley and Wigan Athletic.

In the final, Connolly was an unused substitute in a 1-0 victory over Venezuela, with Toffees striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring the only goal of the game.

Goalkeeper Dean Henderson and defender Ezri Konsa (now of Crystal Palace and Aston Villa respectively) were also on the bench, and are both part of Gareth Southgate’s senior England squad this summer’s Euros in Germany.

The other standout names include AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori, Blackburn Rovers’ Adam Armstrong, Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters, Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook and Dominic Solanke- with the latter scoring 19 Premier League goals in the most recent season.

Ademola Lookman, who was also a teammate of Connolly’s at Everton at the time, was part of England’s U20 World Cup winning team as well, but has represented Nigeria at senior level since 2022. The winger recently captured the headlines with a hat-trick for Atalanta in their 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in last month’s Europa League final.

The man in charge of the successful Three Lions team back in 2017 was current Carlisle United head coach and ex-Blackpool attacker Paul Simpson- who made 37 appearances during his time at Bloomfield Road.

Like Connolly, Luke Southwood, Sheyi Ojo and Harry Chapman all find themselves out of contract this summer, while Josh Onomah and Ovie Ejaria are also currently without clubs.

Here is the full England U20s winning squad from 2017: Freddie Woodman, Jonjoe Kenny, Callum Connolly, Lewis Cook, Fikayo Tomori, Jake Clarke-Salter, Josh Onomah, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Adam Armstrong, Dominic Solanke, Ademola Lookman, Ezri Konsa, Dean Henderson, Kyle Walker-Peters, Dael Fry, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Harrison Chapman, Kieran Dowell, Sheyi Ojo, Ovie Ejaria, Luke Southwood.