Wales are facing a fight to hold on to some of their most promising female footballers amid an “increasingly aggressive” battle to secure the international futures of talented youngsters.
Wales have already lost rising Manchester United star Layla Drury, the Wrexham-born forward who became the Red Devils’ youngest ever female goalscorer in January.
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Drury, 17, switched allegiances to England earlier this year having previously represented Wales at under-17 level.
The loss of Drury, who has already played eight times for United’s first team, was a heavy blow for Wales given her potential and the fact that she was part of the Football Association of Wales’ (FAW) development system.
The concern for the FAW is that further young Welsh talents could be tempted to switch allegiances, with the pull of a potential Lionesses career regarded as significant.
“The market for capturing and retaining talent has become increasingly aggressive,” FAW chief football officer David Adams told BBC Sport Wales.
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“We must make every effort to protect our assets and retain our top talent to protect the future success of the women’s national teams.”
Since 2020, the FAW has focused attempts to develop young female players – aged between 11 and 16 – on programmes in north and south Wales.
As part of the system, a group of 31 players are involved in three training sessions a week and play games in the FAW’s National Academi boys’ set-up in order to aid their development.
There is a further pool of 50 players who compete in Adran Premier academies and train with the FAW’s girls’ development set-up twice a week, while Wales-qualified girls at English academies are invited to a school holiday regional programme.
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The FAW’s development programme, which has been awarded Fifa academy status, also focuses on analysis work and strength and conditioning in an attempt to produce future Wales internationals.
A high proportion of players involved are either dual-qualified or have multi-national heritage.
The fact that many of those players are likely to sign for clubs in England when aged 15 to 16 – with no top-class women’s clubs to join in Wales – can be problematic for the FAW.
If players are representing English clubs, they are more likely to come to the attention of those working in England’s international pathway.
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The opportunity to play for England is viewed as appealing for some players because they are one of the women’s game’s heavyweight sides, having won the Women’s Euros twice in a row and reached the Women’s World Cup final in 2023.
As well as the increased chance of success on the pitch, playing for the Lionesses can bring significant commercial opportunities for individual players.
Unlike the men’s game, where the biggest financial rewards are on offer at club level, the commercial side of playing international football can be a significant pull for some female players because of the far lower salaries paid at women’s clubs.
Former captain Kath Morgan won 51 caps during a 14-year Wales career and has also coached the national side.
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She currently coaches Welsh youngsters at Coleg y Cymoedd’s full-time female academy and also works as an agent for some players, including new Wales cap Casi Gregson.
Morgan believes young players are driven primarily by a desire to become professionals – and will go wherever it takes to make that happen.
“I don’t think it’s a decision based on finances – I think it’s more based on the chance to have success in their careers,” Morgan said.
While there is an acceptance that competing with England’s resources is not possible, Morgan argues there is a need for further investment in girls’ football in Wales.
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“There has to be consistency in creating the pathway,” she added.
“The crux of it is that if there’s a lack of infrastructure and investment, players will inevitably go to where that is offered.”
Manchester City centre-back Mayzee Davies, 20, 19-year-old Manchester United full-back Scarlett Hill and United attacking midfielder Mared Griffiths, also 19, have all broken into Rhian Wilkinson’s Wales side having been part of the FAW’s development system.
Had Drury opted for Wales, the likelihood is that she would also have at least one senior Welsh cap to her name by now, particularly after injuries forced Wilkinson to turn to a number of youngsters for last month’s Women’s World Cup semi-final games against Albania.
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In truth, Drury – like club colleague Griffiths – might already be an international regular had she stuck with Wales.
Instead, she will hope an England senior chance comes at some point in the future having been a late addition to their U20 Women’s World Cup squad in September.
Unless there is a change in Fifa regulations, there is no chance of Drury playing for Wales further down the line even if she does not become a Lioness.
The rules state that if a player features in a competitive game for one country – as Drury did for Wales Under-17s – they are allowed only one switch of nationality.
Vera Jones is another highly regarded Welsh-born teenager who is playing for England, though her situation is different.
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The attacking midfielder, 18, spent five years in Barry Town’s academy before joining Chelsea in 2024.
Currently on loan at Watford, Jones made her England Under-17 debut in 2023 and has remained part of the English set-up, featuring alongside Drury in the U20 Women’s World Cup squad.
The difference in Jones’ case is that she did not play for Wales before committing to England.
As a result she would – potentially – be eligible to switch to the land of her birth if she does not go on to play senior football for the Lionesses.
Whether that ever becomes a conversation depends on Jones’ progress in the English system – as well as her wishes, of course – but Wales are sure to monitor the situation knowing she could one day follow the likes of Hannah Cain and Lois Joel by playing senior football for them having represented England at youth level.
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In the meantime, Welsh football’s bosses must do all they can to try to ensure the various promising youngsters within their grasp are not tempted away.
Given that Wales are working with limited resources, the loss of any player – particularly one who has been nurtured in their system – is something the FAW is desperate to avoid.
“Our hope is that young female players who were born in Wales feel a sense of belonging to represent Cymru,” Adams said.
