The 24-year-old forward, Eddie Nketiah, had an impressive youth career with England before making his senior debut under Gareth Southgate. He came on as a substitute for Ollie Watkins in the last 17 minutes of a friendly match.
Despite this appearance, Nketiah has not yet played in a competitive fixture for England, leaving him eligible to switch his international allegiance to Ghana. Ghana has been open about their interest in recruiting players who are on the periphery of the England setup.
If Nketiah plays in the upcoming European qualifier against Italy, he would solidify his status as an England international. However, Nketiah’s decision remains uncertain, and there has been a late appeal from influential figures to consider Ghana.
Chris Houghton, who is involved with Ghana’s national team, commented on the situation, stating that some players have a clear idea of their international future, while others, like Nketiah, prefer to keep their options open. “We would never say never on him switching to Ghana. But it’s always down to what the player wants,” Houghton explained, indicating that the door remains open for Nketiah to choose Ghana.
Ghana has successfully secured the commitments of other dual-eligible players such as Tariq Lamptey and Antoine Semenyo, both of whom were born in London.
Another potential recruit for Ghana is Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has three caps for England but hasn’t played for the national team since 2019. Hudson-Odoi, now at Nottingham Forest, has been a long-term target for Ghana.
In a September interview with The Telegraph, Hudson-Odoi discussed his international future after leaving Chelsea. He expressed that Ghana is a very appealing option but indicated that he wanted to see how his club career developed first.
“Ghana is a very good option but let’s wait and see. Hopefully once I start playing games here, maybe Gareth [Southgate] or Ghana will come,” Hudson-Odoi said, highlighting the competitive nature of his decision.
The situation underscores the ongoing tug-of-war for talented players with dual eligibility. As Nketiah’s case shows, these players often have to weigh their loyalty to their country of birth against the opportunities presented by their heritage.
For now, both England and Ghana await Nketiah’s final decision, which could shape the future of his international career.
