The Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, who is currently on loan to the French club Reims, has decided to represent the United States with FIFA approving a request from US Soccer to change his national eligibility from England on Tuesday.
Balogun has played for England up to the under-21 level but now looks set to play for the US national team, who are co-hosting the next men’s FIFA World Cup in 2026.
The 21-year-old was born in Brooklyn but grew up in London and is also eligible to play for Nigeria, as well, through his parents. He had also represented both the US and England at the youth level, scoring seven goals in 13 appearances for the latter's Under-21 side.
The striker has 19 goals in the French league this season, which is the fifth most.
"My decision to represent the United States came together with my family,” he told the US Soccer website. “In the end, it became a no-brainer, but for sure it’s just something I wanted to do and it feels like I’m at home here.”
“To represent the United States means a lot, more than people would know,” he added. “I’m very proud and honoured to have this opportunity, and I want to give everything I have to make our team successful,” he added.
The move is massive for USMNT as they had been lacking a star striker for a long time.
Balogun’s decision to represent the United States came five weeks before England play in the Under-21 European Championship, which is being hosted by Romania and Georgia. Lee Carsley’s side faces Germany, Israel and the Czech Republic in Group C.
The 21-year-old is expected to be sold by Arsenal this summer in the upcoming transfer window. German club RB Leipzig are frontrunners among suitors from across Europe with West Ham also understood to hold an interest.