Charlie Cresswell: The Rising Star in France Catching Premier League Eyes
More and more young English players are seeking opportunities overseas, with Charlie Cresswell being among those who have flourished in foreign leagues.
He made the challenging yet ultimately smart choice to relocate to France last summer, securing a permanent transfer to Ligue 1 club Toulouse. Cresswell's reputation has grown considerably throughout the past year, and he's now being connected with a potential return to England's top flight.
Championship newcomers Sunderland were initially linked with the centre-back, but unexpected reports indicate that title holders Liverpool might also be interested in the promising player. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has disclosed that he's available to depart Toulouse this summer following interest from Premier League and Serie A clubs.
So who exactly is this Premier League target Cresswell? Here's all the essential information about the 22-year-old defender.
Who Is Charlie Cresswell?
Though born in Preston, Cresswell grew up in York and was predictably spotted by Leeds United scouts during his youth. The centre-back joined the Whites in 2013 and regularly appeared for their academy teams before penning his initial professional deal with the club in 2019.
Cresswell made his Leeds first-team bow the next year against Hull City in the Carabao Cup, going on to make six additional senior appearances for the Yorkshire side by summer 2022. Due to his potential, he was loaned to Championship side Millwall for the 2022–23 season, where he impressed with 30 solid performances in London.
Cresswell's 6'3 stature enabled him to net four goals and register two assists across 28 Championship matches for the Lions as they secured eighth place in the second division. Upon returning to Elland Road with Leeds also relegated to the Championship, Cresswell was anticipated to play a major role for the Whites but managed only seven appearances across all competitions in 2023–24.
Following a disappointing campaign that stunted his progress, Cresswell—son of former Leeds striker Richard Cresswell—took the brave step to join Toulouse last summer. This proved to be an inspired decision as he quickly established himself as a regular starter for the French side, who achieved tenth place in Ligue 1. He featured in all but three top-flight matches for Les Violets.
Has He Played in the Premier League Before?
Cresswell possesses very limited Premier League experience, though he has previously competed in England's elite division. He made five appearances for Leeds during the 2021–22 season and was named on the substitutes' bench for 33 of their 38 Premier League fixtures.
He earned his Premier League debut in a 2–1 home loss to West Ham United in September 2021—a game he started and completed despite his young age. His following three appearances in the league were extremely brief substitute appearances late in games, though he did feature for the entire second half of Leeds's encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers in March that season. Despite being two goals down at halftime, the Whites managed to win the match 3–2 after Cresswell's substitution.
Has He Played for England?
Although Cresswell hasn't yet earned a call-up to England's senior team, the defender has been a consistent presence for the Under-21s. He's accumulated 26 caps in total and has been selected for the squad in the previous two U21 European Championships, claiming victory on both occasions.
He made just one appearance in the 2023 success but was a starter in every match at this summer's competition, forming a partnership with former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah at the center of Lee Carsley's defense. He earned selection as one of six England players in the Tournament's Team of the Tournament.
Charlie Cresswell's 2024–25 Season
Cresswell's capacity to seamlessly integrate into a mid-table Ligue 1 squad despite barely playing regular first-team football for a year demonstrates his quality. Toulouse manager Carles Martínez Novell rapidly incorporated the Englishman into his starting eleven, where he remained throughout the campaign.
He started 29 of his 31 Ligue 1 appearances and concluded the season with four goals, two assists and nine clean sheets in matches where he played over thirty minutes. He led his teammates in clearances and blocks per 90 minutes—ranking in the 87th percentile among center-backs across the league for clearances.
Cresswell's offensive contributions were especially noteworthy, and the imposing center-back distinguished himself among players in his position. He ranked in the 99th percentile for shots and shots on target among Ligue 1 center-backs, with only five teammates scoring more goals than him. He poses a significant threat at set pieces thanks to his height and build.
Any Premier League side prepared to invest in Cresswell would be acquiring one of England's most talented young center-backs. Whether he can fulfill his potential is yet to be determined.