Wiegman Drops Toone and Kelly: Lionesses Chief Demands Club Form

Sarina Wiegman does not trade in sentimentality. In unveiling her 23-player England squad on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, the Lionesses manager delivered her boldest selection statement yet: dropping Euro 2022 heroes Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly ahead of October’s crucial Women's World Cup qualifying playoff against Greece.

Both players are iconic figures in modern English football. They scored the decisive goals in the Euro 2022 final, helped England retain their crown at Euro 2025 to secure back-to-back titles, and featured throughout three consecutive major tournament finals. Yet as the Lionesses prepare for a high-stakes playoff campaign, past glories provided zero protection against cold, unforgiving performance standards.

Wiegman's rationale was direct and uncompromising. The Dutch coach made it clear that Toone, the 27-year-old Manchester United midfielder, and Kelly, the 28-year-old Arsenal forward, had fallen below expected levels at club level. For Wiegman, international caps cannot be treated as an entitlement; they must be earned through decisive performances week after week.

Cold Accountability: Past Heroics Cannot Shield Slumping Stars

The omission of Toone and Kelly sends a clear message across the England setup. For fans who watched the Lionesses navigate the past three major tournaments, the duo had become synonymous with delivering under pressure. Both players developed a reputation to 'come up clutch' in critical moments, whether it was Toone dragging England level in their 2022 European Championship run and scoring in the final, or Kelly netting the winner.

Together, they helped define England's greatest era: champions of Euro 2022, finalists at the 2023 World Cup, and winners of Euro 2025. Yet Wiegman's straight-to-the-point managerial style leaves no room for nostalgia. With qualification on the line, the manager made it unequivocally clear to BBC Radio 5 Live that recent club displays did not justify their inclusion.

"Of course, I still believe in these players. They are really good and have shown so much for us," Wiegman told BBC Radio 5 Live. "But that is also why I didn't pick them this time, because they have not played to their potential in my opinion in the last couple of weeks. I had those conversations with them and that was very hard to take. They took it well and of course, they want to work on that."

Wiegman conceded that hearing such feedback is 'hard to take' and 'not a nice message' for players accustomed to being regular selections. However, her willingness to deliver uncomfortable truths underlines why England remain at the summit. The head coach reinforced that selection is strictly governed by talent, playing minutes, and active competition.

The WSL Form Dip: Analyzing the Numbers Behind the Axing

When examining the cold data behind Wiegman's decision, the manager's technical critique becomes impossible to dispute. Neither Toone nor Kelly has registered a single goal or provided an assist in the Women's Super League this season. In an elite setup where attacking output is paramount, such a domestic drought represents an unacceptable drop in standards.

For Toone, the domestic campaign has been uneven. The 27-year-old Manchester United midfielder has started three of United’s four WSL fixtures, yet she has struggled to impose her creative influence. Tellingly, Toone was left out of the starting lineup for United’s draw at Arsenal. While she responded by scoring in United's 10-1 League Cup victory against second-tier Sheffield United last week, that strike against lower-league opposition was not enough to convince Wiegman that her top-flight levels had returned.

Kelly’s domestic situation at Arsenal has proved even more constrained. The 28-year-old forward has started just one Women's Super League match for Arsenal this season, restricted otherwise to three substitute appearances in the league. Although Kelly did start Arsenal's Champions League victory against Danish club Køge, her lack of sustained domestic starts and zero attacking returns in the league left her exposed.

WSL Goal Involvements

0 goals and 0 assists combined

Toone League Outings

3 starts in 4 WSL matches; benched vs Arsenal

Kelly League Starts

1 start, 3 sub appearances for Arsenal

Major Final Pedigree

3 consecutive finals reached together

Wiegman emphasized that squad spots must reflect current competitive output: "There is also competition going on. It’s about talent, it’s about playing minutes and it’s about the competition going on. I hope they can step up and show what they can do." Without regular minutes and decisive interventions, international places evaporate.

Dismissing the Injury Excuse: Purely a Football Decision

In the wake of Tuesday's announcement, speculation surfaced suggesting Kelly’s omission might have been influenced by a physical complaint, with reports hinting at an injury issue. However, Wiegman wasted no time shutting down that narrative during her press conference, refusing to let medical ambiguity mask technical evaluation.

"Well, I had a conversation with Chloe and, for me, it was just what I saw on the pitch, so I kept it [to the] football," Wiegman explained bluntly. By eliminating the convenient cover of an injury setback, Wiegman placed full ownership back onto the player: Kelly's route back requires winning regular minutes at Arsenal and producing undeniable performances.

Despite the harshness of the critique, Wiegman insisted the door remains open: "I’m convinced they can do better, I think they are convinced about that, too. I think they took the feedback in a good and in a positive way but it’s hard to take at the same time of course; it’s not a nice message. I hope they respond to it really well. We will support them and of course they get the support at club, too. I hope they come back even better than they were before."

Emerging Talent and Tactical Reshuffle: Potter In, Williamson Back

While Toone and Kelly digest their exclusion, Wiegman handed a first senior international call-up to 20-year-old Chelsea midfielder Lexi Potter, rewarding her for an exceptional opening month. Potter has started three of Chelsea's opening four WSL matches, impressing in central midfield alongside England's Keira Walsh.

Potter was not the only player feeling the impact of Wiegman’s high standards. Chelsea forward Aggie Beever-Jones was also omitted from the 23-player squad, while Arsenal duo Lotte Wubben-Moy and Taylor Hinds were similarly left out. Representing top clubs offers zero immunity if individual output drops.

Conversely, the squad was bolstered by the return of captain Leah Williamson. The Arsenal defender missed June’s international window—which saw England suffer a 4-0 defeat against Spain before rebounding with a 3-0 victory over Ukraine. Williamson's strong start to the season earned warm praise from her manager: "I think she's played really well in the last few weeks and at the start of the season. She is happy and you can see."

The Playoff Pressure Cooker: The High-Stakes Road to the World Cup

The timing of Wiegman's squad cull is loaded with tactical urgency. England face a Women's World Cup qualifying playoff tie against Greece in October, representing the first step of an intense ten-week campaign. The Lionesses must navigate two rounds of playoffs over the next 10 weeks to punch their ticket to the tournament.

With just under nine months remaining until the start of the World Cup, the margin for error is non-existent. Having finished as runners-up at the 2023 World Cup, England’s ambition is to go one better. Reaching that summit requires complete ruthlessness from the dugout down.

By dropping two of England's biggest household names, Wiegman has delivered an unmistakable warning shot to the squad: perform for your club, or watch the Lionesses march on without you.