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Should there have been a key element to the cohesion among the England Under-21s players as they secured their European title this summer, the Genoa defender might have let it slip: a group game called Werewolf. Adopted by the England first team setup during the 2022 tournament in Qatar, it opposes a small aware team called the wolves against the unknowing villagers known as the villagers as they try to trick each other to win, in a format similar to the popular TV show The Traitors.

“Every night we played,” the defender explains. “It significantly strengthened our unity because you learn about teammates. In this day and age when mobile phones are everywhere, you come together, you share jokes, you create memories … the team was very united, all were united, and this was evident in games when we succeeded in winning the tournament.”

Such is the reality for emerging talents that Lee Carsley’s squad had only brief period to celebrate their thrilling win over Germany before they went their separate ways. The defender’s situation involved traveling to Italy – the club he joined in August 2024 after a decade at Arsenal – before taking a well-deserved holiday.

“Everything happened very fast, so I would say we likely couldn’t fully appreciate it properly,” he says. “But I don’t feel like it was a shock for this group to claim victory. Everyone believed: ‘Victory was ours to take, and success was inevitable,’ so after winning, it was like: ‘Alright, we succeeded, it’s an achievement, break time, but now each player must excel with their clubs.’”

Serie A Impact

Norton-Cuffy has certainly taken that form into the Italian league. After missing a significant part of his debut campaign owing to injuries, the young English talent has secured a starting spot under former Gunners star Patrick Vieira and says he is regularly recognised around the Italian city.

The club is Italy’s oldest club, founded by a group of English settlers in 1893, and the new away shirt that Norton-Cuffy helped to promote features the English flag in recognition of their origins.

“It seems many local fans seem to have connected with me in that way, as an English player, and considering the team’s foundation,” he says. “Unexpectedly, it fits perfectly.”

Career Development

The defender is emulating the journey of a similar wing-back from the capital in Djed Spence, who had a loan spell at Genoa from the North London club in 2024. The player chose to depart Arsenal after productive spells at Lincoln, Rotherham, Millwall and Coventry, declining opportunities from Premier League teams and German teams.

“I wanted to come here, perform and discover a alternative playing style, immerse in different traditions and put myself outside what I consider my familiar environment, because staying in England would have been simpler. But I said: ‘Let me try the challenge abroad. Time to understand Italian life. Serie A is renowned for defensive organization, structure, style of play. Thus, I determined: ‘Time to enhance my defensive skills, but display my talents going forward and bring my own style to Serie A.’”

Professional Routine

He is famous for energy-sapping sprints down the right flank and attributes his stamina to a carbohydrate-loading routine that starts three days before a match. Most of his nutrition are supplied by the club but he developed culinary abilities at Arsenal – one of the skills young players are taught at the club’s training facility.

“The club guided my growth as a person, through football training and off the pitch,” explains the defender. “At Arsenal, you’re going there and you’re learning to be better every day. If you’re not learning about football, culinary skills are taught. It’s come in handy, definitely. The staff ensured mental preparation occurred, related areas. In games, obviously it’s Arsenal Football Club: quality demands are supreme, so it definitely assisted my development significantly.”

Coaching Effect

The club experienced a slow start, earning just two points in five matches but playing under Vieira remains a perfect scenario for Norton-Cuffy. He credits the ex-international, who took over from Gilardino last November, for improving his positional skills: “He was a great player, currently he’s a top manager and he’s assisted my development after joining. The objective is to climb the table. Our priority is to secure our position, approximately, ensure survival, and then assess further, but I believe the squad can of performing well.”

International Ambitions

Within minutes of England’s championship success, the coach already aimed for a hat-trick of victories for England’s youth in 2027. Norton‑Cuffy, part of the junior selection that won their European title in 2022, is likely to feature the England’s upcoming games against Moldova and Andorra during the international break and says Carsley has also been a major influence on his career.

“During challenging periods last year, he found moments to reach out, advise: ‘Persevere, you know your quality,’ provide motivation. His support is constant. During youth international duty, the message is repeated constantly: success means graduating the target is the main squad. So it’s dependent on what I do for the under-21s and how well I do at my club. It’s for me to push myself ahead and that’s on me.”