England fans have been shocked by a surprise inclusion in the official match Euro 2024 sticker book.
American trading card company Topps won the rights to acquire Panini as UEFA's exclusive sticker partner for the 2022 tournament in Germanyto build on their portfolio as an official partner of the Champions League and other UEFA club competitions.
Topps brought in the legendary manager Jose Mourinho to promote the compilation book, but one of the choices on the English selection pages has left fans stunned.
Leicester city left back luke thomas, 21, has spent the season on loan, first at Sheffield United in the Premier Leagueand then with Championship side Middlesbrough.
Despite fifteen appearances at England under-21 level, he never made the step to the top Gareth Southgate's senior team – but he features in the book and is listed as a Blades player, despite his loan to the club being mutually terminated on January 12.
The official sticker book for Euro 2024 – promoted by Jose Mourinho – contains a surprising entry
Leicester full-back Luke Thomas, who is on loan at Middlesbrough, has been included
Fans have been left wondering if Topps knows 'something' important about Gareth Southgate's Euros squad
Second Tier Podcast wrote on X (earlier Tweet): 'Why is Middlesbrough left back Luke Thomas in the new Euro 2024 sticker album for England??' along with two crying laughter emojis.
Fans responded with their own questions and comments about Thomas' surprise inclusion, with one asking, “Do they know anything?” and another claims 'Call Pending'.
One said Thomas was a 'top player but doubt he will go to the Euros', while another said he was a 'better option' than Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell, who started both of England's friendlies in March.
Another fan replied with an explanation for the situation, noting, “Many English players couldn't be on the album due to licensing issues.”
Thomas has made 15 appearances for England Under-21s but has had no senior call-ups
Manchester City duo Phil Foden and John Stones were snubbed by the Euro 2024 sticker album, as previously reported by Mail Sport.
Wingers Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are also missing from the England squad, but Rico Lewis is included despite having just one national team cap to his name.
A spokesperson for Topps told BBC Newsbeat it was “proud” of its first sticker collection, but admitted it was disappointed that a “small number of players” were missing, adding: “This is because the tournament's former sticker partner has blocked certain parts of the collection, at at the expense of the fans.'
Panini has released its own 'tournament edition' album, dedicated to the England team, but without the wider rights to the whole of Euro 2024.
Foden's excellent club performances have put him in the running to be nominated as player of the season, and his love of Premier League sticker albums is well documented.
His girlfriend Becca Cooke told me The Telegraph in 2021: “He's obsessed with these stickers right now.
'We went to the zoo this week and on the way home I came across Morrison's and had to call him because I saw they had a big box of stickers there.
'We're driving along and he says, “Stop, they're selling stickers there. Go ahead, Bec, can you go to that store and get me every pack they have. I don't want them to know it's me.” '
Panini has released its own 'tournament edition' album dedicated to the England team (left)
Manchester City duo John Stones and Phil Foden were omitted from the official sticker book
England have pre-tournament friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland before the trip to Germany.
At Euro 2024, Southgate's side will play group stage matches against Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia before the knockout stages begin.