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Should there have been a hidden ingredient to the togetherness among the England Under-21s players as they retained their European title this summer, the young full-back might have let it slip: a social game called Werewolf. Adopted by the senior England camp during the Qatar World Cup in Qatar, it opposes a small aware team called the wolves against the unaware group known as the villagers as they aim to outwit each other to win, in a structure like the popular TV show The Traitors.

“Every night we played,” says Norton-Cuffy. “It significantly strengthened our unity because you learn about teammates. In this day and age when people are often on devices, you sit down, you have a laugh, you create memories … the team was very united, everyone was together, and this was evident in games when we succeeded in winning the tournament.”

Such is the situation for developing footballers that the England U21 team had only limited time to celebrate their thrilling win over Germany before they headed to their clubs. In Norton-Cuffy’s case involved joining his Serie A club – his new side in August 2024 after a decade at Arsenal – before embarking on a well-deserved holiday.

“It was a quick, quick turnaround, so I believe we perhaps missed fully celebrating it properly,” he says. “However, I don’t believe it was surprising for our team to claim victory. Everyone believed: ‘We deserved to win, and we are going to win the tournament,’ so upon achieving it, it was like: ‘Well, we accomplished it, we’re proud of ourselves, let’s take our holidays, but now everyone’s got to go and rip up at their clubs.’”

Serie A Impact

Norton-Cuffy has certainly taken that momentum into the Serie A campaign. Having missed a large portion of his first season owing to injuries, the London-born defender has become a regular under the Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira and mentions being frequently acknowledged around the Italian city.

Genoa are Italy’s oldest club, created by a group of British immigrants in 1893, and the new away shirt that he participated in marketing features the English flag in acknowledgment of their history.

“I believe a lot of Italians have identified with me in that way, as an English player, and because of how the club was founded,” he says. “Unexpectedly, it fits perfectly.”

Career Development

The defender is emulating the path of another attacking defender from the London area in Djed Spence, who spent four and a half months at Genoa from Spurs in 2024. He opted to exit Arsenal after successful loans at Lincoln, Rotherham, Millwall and Coventry, declining opportunities from two Premier League sides and Bundesliga outfits.

“My aim was to move, play and experience a new style of football, immerse in different traditions and put myself outside what I know as my safe space, because I could have easily stayed. However, I decided: ‘Let me try the challenge abroad. Time to understand Italian life. Serie A is known for its defensive abilities, structure, style of play. So I said: ‘Let me come and improve my defensive skills, but display my talents offensively and introduce my personal approach to Serie A.’”

Fitness and Nutrition

Norton-Cuffy is known for lung‑bursting runs down the right flank and puts his energy down to a carbohydrate-loading routine that commences days ahead of a match. Many of his meals are supplied by the club but he acquired cooking skills at Arsenal – part of the education young players are taught at the club’s training facility.

“They helped me mature as a person, through football training and off the pitch,” explains the defender. “At Arsenal, you’re going there and developing continuously daily. If you’re not learning about football, culinary skills are taught. It’s come in handy, definitely. Coaches guaranteed psychological development was addressed, similar aspects. And then on the pitch, obviously it’s Arsenal Football Club: expectations are maximum, so I believe it benefited me greatly.”

Vieira’s Influence

Genoa have made a difficult beginning, taking two points from five league games but being coached by Vieira remains an ideal situation for Norton-Cuffy. He credits the former France midfielder, who took over from Gilardino last November, for improving his positional skills: “As a footballer, he excelled, he’s a great manager now and he’s improved my game since he’s come in. The objective is to get as high as possible. Our priority is to hit the 40-point mark, I think it is, make sure we’re safe, and then look from there, but I think this group is capable of achieving positive results.”

National Team Goals

Within minutes of England’s European victory, the manager discussed a hat-trick of victories for England’s youth in 2027. Having been in the under‑19s squad that secured victory in 2022, is likely to feature the England’s upcoming games against Moldova and Andorra this month and explains the manager has acted as a significant factor in his development.

“When I had difficult moments last year, he would take the time to contact me, say: ‘Keep going, you understand your ability,’ provide motivation. He’s consistently available. When you’re playing for the under-21s, the message is repeated constantly: the goal is not to be in the under-21s the goal is to be in England’s first team. Therefore, it relies on my performances for the youth team and how well I do at my club. It’s for me to push myself out there and that’s my responsibility.”