Frequently likened to Bukayo Saka, England’s rising star Amario Cozier-Duberry is determined to be recognized for more than just his number.
The Middlesbrough winger, currently on loan from Brighton for the season, has received his first call-up to Lee Carsley’s Under-21 squad as England approaches the conclusion of the Euro qualifiers.
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Cozier-Duberry has made quite the impression, showcasing an impressive zig-zag run and providing an assist during Boro’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham City last weekend.
This performance came on the heels of scoring in consecutive matches against Millwall and Norwich. Carsley is keen to incorporate him into his roster, aiming for a Euros hat-trick if they successfully qualify against Kazakhstan, Slovakia, and the Republic of Ireland in the coming three weeks.
After progressing through Arsenal’s youth ranks, Cozier-Duberry joined Brighton without a transfer fee in the same month manager Fabian Hurzeler took the helm in 2024, signing a new contract that summer.
Hurzeler turned down transfer bids for Cozier-Duberry during the summer, including two offers from Rangers, with one bid climbing to £7.5m—a potential record for the club in two decades.
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During his first media engagement at St George’s Park on Tuesday, Cozier-Duberry addressed the comparisons with Saka, the competitive loan situation, and Danny Welbeck’s guidance.
The 21-year-old noted: “Joining a club like Boro, where there’s competition but also a chance to play and enhance my skills, was essential.
“I aimed to be more than just a number; I want to be an asset, contributing as much as I can to the team.”
Cozier-Duberry is one of eight U21 players currently on loan, alongside City defenders Max Alleyne, Stephen Mfuni, Divin Mubama, goalkeepers James Beadle, Tommy Setford, Tommy Simkin, and Ethan Nwaneri.
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His collaboration with striker Will Lankshear at Riverside could be pivotal in Carsley’s ambition for a third consecutive Euros title in Albania and Serbia next summer.
Cozier-Duberry expressed: “Will is an incredible player. I’ve known him for many years since our time at Arsenal.
“I aim to create chances, score goals, and assist one another, both for club and country.”
Lankshear, who joined Boro from Tottenham in a deal potentially totaling £20m, is viewed as a potential heir to Harry Kane, England’s all-time top scorer with 85 goals.
Similar to Kane, Lankshear, 21, was released by Arsenal in his youth, yet striker coach Scott Chickelday believes his finishing resembles “the closest thing to Kane”.
Carsley underscored: “We have an exceptional group of forwards. Amario fully deserves his call-up and is well-positioned to make an impact. The competition in the wide positions is intense.”
“He’s an exciting addition, and his performances over the past two seasons speak volumes.”
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Carsley has embraced both new talents and experienced players from the 2025 championship squad, with many of the previous Euros U21 winners still in touch through a WhatsApp group that includes the latest squad members.
Reflecting on the opportunity to secure a third consecutive title, Cozier-Duberry remarked: “It’s an incredible chance to be here, but winning a European trophy would be the icing on the cake.
“The fans likely expect England to succeed again. While there’s a degree of pressure, for us, it’s about concentrating on the work, and everything will likely fall into place.”
“I don’t see it as an obligation, but rather a goal I aspire to achieve.”
Cozier-Duberry enjoyed a fruitful loan stint at Bolton last season, helping them secure a League One play-off victory with eight goals and twelve assists in 34 matches, earning a spot in the League One team of the year.
The young talent idolized Dutch legend Arjen Robben during his upbringing in North London, inspired by his “magical left foot” and “impossible cut-inside move.”
He reminisced: “Arjen Robben always stood out to me because, although predictable, you simply couldn’t stop him due to his pace. I also looked up to Bukayo, Gabriel Martinelli, and Reiss Nelson.”
Cozier-Duberry did not feature in a first-team match under Mikel Arteta but shared the pitch with Saka during pre-season in Arsenal’s exhilarating 5-3 win over Barcelona in LA in 2023.
Former Arsenal youth coach Jack Wilshere compared Cozier-Duberry to Saka, sometimes labeling the winger as “unplayable.”
Cozier-Duberry commented: “Hearing that from Wilshere felt surreal. It’s a truly incredible experience.”
He admitted: “Participating in that match was remarkable and I gained so much from simply observing how other players prepared and trained.”
Following an eventful pre-season with Hurzeler, the England youth prospect logged 22 minutes in Brighton’s goalless draw against Norwegian side Tromso IL in the first leg of the UEFA Conference League in August.
When discussing his inspirations at Brighton, Cozier-Duberry stated: “Just before Welbeck left, he encouraged me to ‘demonstrate my skills in training every day and to be as direct as possible.’ There are several players whose posters I had on my wall.”
Former England, United, and Arsenal striker Welbeck transferred to Chelsea after the pre-season tour in Vienna, before Brighton later achieved a convincing 4-0 win over Tromso IL at the Amex.
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