Callum Hudson Odoi Seriously Considering Switching International Allegiance
- Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has made up his mind about which country he wants to represent ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- The former Chelsea winger has not featured for the Three Lions since 2019 and has been increasingly tempted by the opportunity to play on football’s biggest stage next year
- Despite earning three England caps earlier in his career, he has been consistently overlooked in recent seasons
- An ex-Black Stars player has criticised foreign-born players who only opt to play for African teams after being overlooked by European countries
Nottingham Forest forward Callum Hudson-Odoi is now giving serious consideration to switching his international allegiance to Ghana ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
This marks a major shift from his earlier stance, when the 25-year-old was determined to battle for a place in the England squad.
Source: Getty Images
Hudson-Odoi makes Ghana decision
Hudson-Odoi, born in London to Ghanaian parents, is still eligible to represent Ghana despite having three senior caps for England.
He holds a Ghanaian passport and has long been courted by the Ghana Football Association, which made a strong attempt to secure his allegiance in 2021.
During that visit to Accra, the former Chelsea star held informal discussions with FA officials, met government representatives, and even paid a courtesy call on the country’s former president.
According to The SunSport, Hudson-Odoi is now working quietly behind the scenes to secure the necessary paperwork to represent Ghana at the World Cup.
The Black Stars are loaded with attacking talent, with electrifying wingers like Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus and Bournemouth’s in-form Antoine Semenyo spearheading the squad.
Hudson-Odoi is viewed as a natural fit for this evolving team, with sources indicating he is increasingly leaning toward switching allegiance after previously hoping to break into England’s senior setup.
Remarkably, the move could set up a showdown with the Three Lions themselves, as Ghana have been drawn alongside England, Croatia and Panama in Group L.
At 25, Hudson-Odoi believes now is the right time to play international football and feels his future lies with Ghana, rather than continuing to wait for another England call-up.
FIFA rules state that a player can switch nationality provided they have played no more than three competitive matches at senior level before turning 21, or been involved at a major championship such as the World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations.
Source: Getty Images
Hudson-Odoi is not the only player with Ghanaian roots eyeing a future with the Black Stars.
Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah, capped just once by England, has recently expressed his deep connection to Ghana and his openness to representing them at the World Cup.
The 26-year-old, who holds the record as England’s all-time top scorer at U21 level, has found senior opportunities limited and now admits he wants to play for the nation of his parents.
Nketiah’s club career began in Arsenal’s youth ranks, where he impressed enough to earn a senior team promotion in 2020.
Across four years with the Gunners, he netted 38 goals and provided seven assists in 168 appearances, according to Transfermarkt.
Despite showing glimpses of brilliance, limited game time under Mikel Arteta led him to seek a fresh start at Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024.
Charles Taylor warns against calling foreign-born players
Ex-Ghana star Charles Taylor opposes calling foreign-born players to be part of the Black Stars, saying they are not superior to their African counterparts in the first place.
In an interview with YEN.com.gh, Taylor questioned:
"Which of these foreign-born players has performed better than Kudus Mohammed, Andre Ayew, or Asamoah Gyan?"
"It's even disrespectful to call a player from outside and reject those born in Ghana," he added.
"These foreign players don't even care about the Black Stars. They only come here when they don't get a call-up from a European country."
Taylor also highlighted issues within Ghana's scouting network, suggesting that better local talent could be discovered with improved scouting efforts.
"We have a poor scouting system here. The coaches are even lazy. They don't go to the villages to scout. If we conduct serious scouting, we'll find better players than those from abroad," the ex-Hearts of Oak star opined.
He believes that prioritising players with local roots would not only enhance the team’s performance but also maintain its unity and cultural identity.
"The European mentality of these players can disrupt team harmony," Taylor warned.
Black Stars divided about pursuing Hudson-Odoi
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Hudson-Odoi remains one of the most prominent names linked with a potential switch to Ghana.
Reports suggest the Black Stars' technical team is divided on whether to pursue the Nottingham star following the country’s qualification for the World Cup.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
