- Eddie Nketiah has expressed his willingness to play for Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, at the international level.
- Despite having represented England a couple of years ago, the 25-year-old remains eligible to play for Ghana.
- After departing from Arsenal during the previous summer, Nketiah has found it difficult to secure a place in the starting lineup at Crystal Palace.
Eddie Nketiah, who plays for Crystal Palace, has stated that he is willing to play for Ghana's national team, the Black Stars.
The individual, who is 25 years old and hails from Lewisham, England, traces his ancestry back to Ghana via his mother, Elizabeth Asaam, and father, Edward Nketiah.
This qualifies him to represent Ghana, despite his upbringing in England and his participation with English youth squads at levels U18 through U21.
Nketiah made his first appearance for England's senior team in a 1-0 friendly win against Australia on October 13, 2023, and at first, he aspired to continue his international career with the Three Lions.
Nevertheless, as England's reservoir of talent continues to strengthen, Nketiah’s opportunities for frequent selections have diminished.
This change could potentially pave the way for a transition to represent the Ghana national squad under coach Otto Addo.
On The Beautiful Game podcast, Nketiah stated:
My parents are both from Ghana, so yes, it's definitely an option. I'm open to representing either country—Ghana or England. In my earlier years, joining the English team seemed logical after progressing through the youth system. However, if Ghana reaches out to me, I would certainly join them.
His remarks suggest a high likelihood that he might soon don the Black Stars shirt, potentially strengthening Ghana’s offense before impending tournaments.
In 2022, he was close to changing his international affiliation to represent a West African nation, obtaining a Ghanaian passport; however, the transfer did not materialize in the end.
Nketiah's professional journey: Seeking consistency
Nketiah commenced his professional journey with Arsenal’s youth setup, showcasing such impressive performances that he was elevated to the main squad in 2020.
Over his four-year tenure with the Gunners, he scored 38 goals and contributed seven assists across 168 matches, as reported by Transfermarkt.
Even though he displayed moments of exceptional skill, his restricted playing opportunities under Mikel Arteta prompted him to pursue a new beginning at Crystal Palace during the summer transfer window in 2024.
Nevertheless, his move to Selhurst Park has not been smooth at all; he has mustered just one goal and two assists across 20 Premier League matches.
As the 2024/25 season approaches its end, Nketiah will likely be keen to make an impression on Oliver Glasner and solidify his role as a crucial member of the team for the subsequent season.
What do FIFA’s regulations state about changing nationalities?
By September 2020, FIFA implemented revised rules concerning players' nationality changes. The regulation states that players may alter their national allegiance provided they have participated in no more than three competitive senior games prior to reaching the age of 21.
Furthermore, these appearances should exclude any matches played in the latter phases of significant competitions such as the FIFA World Cup or various continental championship events.
The guidelines also indicate that at least three years should elapse after a player's most recent senior match before they can represent their first national team.
Additionally, the player needs to qualify for the new national squad when they initially played for the original country. FIFA’s guidelines strive to uphold the fairness of global tournaments alongside respecting individual and career concerns of athletes.
Nketiah explains her choice to retain her Ghanaian last name.
Earlier, Diwida >.gh It was reported that Nketiah disclosed his reasons for choosing to display his Ghanaian surname on the back of his jersey.
Although he represented England two years ago, the 25-year-old remains eligible to play for Ghana.
After departing from Arsenal during the previous summer, Nketiah has found it difficult to secure a place in the starting lineup at Crystal Palace.
