Arsenal Winger Snubs First International Call Up, Eyes Potential Ghana Switch
- An Arsenal U21 winger has declined a call-up to the Liberia senior national team ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
- Born in England, the young attacker was invited for Liberia’s CAF qualifying matches against Namibia and Equatorial Guinea
- He is eligible to represent Liberia through his mother, but also qualifies to play for Ghana and England
Arsenal youth sensation Charles Sagoe Jr has reportedly turned down a senior national team call-up from Liberia, choosing instead to delay his decision on which country to represent.
The 21-year-old’s decision has reignited Ghana’s pursuit of the talented winger, who remains eligible to play for England, Ghana, or Liberia.
Source: Getty Images
Sagoe Jr, born in London to a Ghanaian father and Liberian mother, was named in coach Mario Marinică’s provisional squad for Liberia’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying games against Namibia and Equatorial Guinea.
Liberia, who face Namibia on Thursday before finishing their qualifiers against Equatorial Guinea on Monday, must win both matches to stand a chance of advancing to the CAF second qualifying round, a knockout stage that leads to FIFA’s inter-confederation play-offs.
However, Arsenal journalist Charles Watts reports that Sagoe Jr has declined the call-up to focus on his development with Arsenal’s academy side, with plans to reassess his international future in January.
Just like Eddie Nketiah, Insiders suggest Sagoe Jr’s long-term ambitions are more aligned with breaking into either the Ghana or England setup rather than committing early to Liberia.
According to Football London, both Ghana and Liberia are expected to revisit their interest in the coming months as the youngster carefully weighs up which path best aligns with his career goals.
Source: Getty Images
Currently thriving with Arsenal’s U21s, he has notched three goals and three assists in seven Premier League 2 matches, performances that have earned him first-team training opportunities under Mikel Arteta, who views him as one for the future.
The winger already has one senior Arsenal appearance under his belt, having featured in a 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over Brentford in 2023.
The talented winger began the season brightly, scoring in each of his first three games against Fulham, Nottingham Forest, and Newport County in the EFL Trophy — with his late winner against Newport proving decisive.
Watch his goal against Fulham below:
He has also provided assists against Forest, Brighton, and Derby, helping Max Porter’s side lose just once in seven matches across all competitions.
Sagoe Jr, who previously spent loan spells at Swansea City and Shrewsbury Town, is now pushing for his long-awaited first-team breakthrough.
As transfer expert Fabrizio Romano shared on X, the 21-year-old signed a new deal with Arsenal in August 2024, keeping him at the club until 2027.
Earlier that year, he was recalled from Shrewsbury midway through his loan after limited playing time, particularly as Arsenal managed Bukayo Saka’s injury crisis.
Despite featuring 18 times for the League One side, his minutes had dwindled, prompting the Gunners to bring him back to London and reintegrate him into their development setup.
Daniel Adu Adjei chooses Ghana over England
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that promising British-born striker Daniel Adu-Adjei has set his sights on representing Ghana at the senior level. Though eligible to play for England, Adu-Adjei’s mind is made up.
For him, the decision is about roots, family, and a sense of belonging.
Source: YEN.com.gh
