New England star Josh King tried a sport you wouldn’t expect after he joined Fulham.
Fulham midfielder Josh King has just received his first senior England call-up for upcoming Nations League games against Spain and Croatia. But he only really focused on football when he was in high school.
King, 19, has had a fantastic start to the season with Alvaro Arbeloa’s Fulham team, scoring twice and setting up two goals in 11 Premier League matches.
He was part of England’s under-21 squad during the last international break. England coach Thomas Tuchel called him a “fantastic player” and praised how flexible he is on the pitch. And King’s talents don’t stop at football.
In an interview with Sky Sports in October 2025, King shared that besides football, he also played rugby when he was younger.
He played as a fly-half, a key position that needs great kicking skills—something King says suits him perfectly.
“I played some rugby, which might surprise people,” King said. “Because of how I look, you wouldn’t expect me to play rugby. But yeah, I did, as a fly-half. It was fun.”
He added, “Mostly, though, it’s always been football. When I was about 10 or 11, I decided to go all in. Before that, up to 14 or 15, I was just playing for fun—spending time with friends and enjoying the game. That helped me get to where I am now.”
King also talked about his close friendships with teammates who have been with him since they were around 10 or 11 years old. “There are six or seven of us still here. We’ve grown really close, and it’s great to have them around while making new friends in the first team.”
Tuchel mentioned during his press conference that King is “the extra player in training” among 22 outfield players. He also spoke highly of King’s positive attitude and personality, which are important when choosing players to represent England.
Fulham’s coach Arbeloa is confident King will make the most of this opportunity.
“This is a special moment for him, for our club, and our fans,” Arbeloa said after the call-up was announced. “He’s a real pride for everyone here. Josh joined the club when he was eight, and now, seeing how he plays and performs makes us so proud.”
“I’m very happy for him because he’s humble and always wants to improve and work hard. This is a big day for him and for all of us,” he added.
Arbeloa praised King’s skills, saying he can get the ball in tight spaces, turn quickly, run fast, and dribble well. “We’re working on his finishing because scoring goals is the hardest part of football. But his mindset and character are incredible. He’s very mature for his age—you’d forget he’s only 19. I truly believe he has what it takes to become one of the best players in the world.”