James Rowswell

Born in Welwyn Garden City, James Rowswell can play either as a centre-back or right-back.

He went to Richard Hale School, where he was a County Cup winner, and was a keen swimmer when he was younger. He also enjoys playing cricket.

James scored two goals and provided eight assists during his Under-16 year in 2021/22.

After going full-time as a scholar in the summer of 2022, he was part of our team that won the Under-17 Premier League Cup in 2022/23.

He earned his first professional contract during the 2023/24 campaign and overcame a couple of long-term back injuries to become a key figure in our Development Squad during the latter weeks of the 2024/25 campaign and in the opening months of 2025/26. He added goals to his game during that period - scoring an impressive four goals in six league stage matches in the UEFA Youth League and captaining the team away to Paris Saint-Germain in November, 2025 - and also captained our Under-21s in the Premier League 2 on a number of occasions in early-2026.

Having first taken part in the Club’s Global Football Development Programme as a child, attending after-school sessions and participating in Development Centres at Stevenage and Epping, James completed a remarkable rise to the Premier League when, after a handful of appearances on the first team bench, he made his senior debut in our 1-1 draw at Liverpool in March, 2026.

On the international scene, he made his debut for England Under-16s against Turkey in December, 2021.