Aaron Ramsdale has revealed that the Arsenal squad found out Ben White had received a call-up before Bukayo Saka or Ramsdale himself.
Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, and Ben White were all named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup on Thursday, confirming they’ll be joining the team in Qatar later this month.
Ahead of the squad announcement, White’s inclusion was the least certain, but Ramsdale has revealed that they all found out he’d be involved before the official reveal – and before he or Bukayo Saka knew whether they’d be called up!
“We got a text from Emily, who’s our player liaison, she looks after the group,” Ramsdale recalled. “And yeah, actually found out that Ben (White) was in the (England) group first.
“We were all buzzing for him. Then, it kind of filtered through that me and Bukayo (Saka) were in it as well.
“I think the very first reaction was we were just buzzing for Ben White.”
Ramsdale, Saka, and White have all been in the England squad for a major tournament before, as they were all involved in Southgate’s 26 for the Euros last summer.
But this is the first time they’ll be together at an international tournament as Arsenal teammates, as the Euros took place before Ramsdale or White had officially signed for the Gunners.
In fact, it will be the first time the trio have shared an England squad as Arsenal teammates at all. Saka and Ramsdale weren’t involved with the team in March, which is the only time White has been called up since the Euros.
They’ll all be looking to make it a happy and successful reunion with the national team.