When Eddie Nketiah Spoke About Which Country He Will Play for Between Ghana and England
- Eddie Nketiah previously opened up that he is willing to represent Ghana at the international level
- The 25-year-old is still eligible to represent the Black Stars despite representing England previously
- Since leaving Arsenal last summer, Nketiah has struggled to get into the Crystal Palace starting team
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Crystal Palace forward Eddie Nketiah once disclosed that he is open to representing the Black Stars at the international level.
The 26-year-old, born in Lewisham, England, has Ghanaian roots through his parents, Elizabeth Asaam and Edward Nketiah.
Source: Getty Images
This makes him eligible to play for Ghana, even though he grew up in England and featured for the English youth teams from U18 to U21.
According to Ghanasoccernet, Nketiah made his senior debut in a 1-0 friendly victory over Australia on October 13, 2023, and initially dreamed of continuing his journey with the Three Lions.
However, with England's talent pool growing stronger, the former Arsenal star's chances of regular call-ups have become slimmer.
For by Eddie Nketiah, this shift has opened the door for a possible switch to the Ghana national team, led by Otto Addo.
Speaking on The Beautiful Game podcast in 2022, as captured in a post on X, Nketiah said:
“My parents are both Ghanaians, so yeah, of course, it’s a possibility, you know. I’m open to both - playing for Ghana or England. When I was younger, playing for England made sense after coming through the youth ranks. But if Ghana call me up, I’ll be there.”
His comments signal a strong possibility that he could soon wear the Black Stars jersey, offering a boost to Ghana’s attack ahead of upcoming competitions.
In 2022, he was on the verge of switching allegiance to the West African country, securing a Ghanaian passport, but the move ultimately fell through.
Nketiah's club career: Searching for stability
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.
However, his transition to Selhurst Park has been far from seamless, as he has managed only one goal and two assists in 20 Premier League games in his first season.
As the 2025/26 season nears its conclusion, Nketiah will be eager to impress Oliver Glasner and establish himself as a key figure in the squad ahead of the next campaign.
Source: Getty Images
What FIFA's rules say about nationality switches
As of September 2020, FIFA introduced updated regulations on players' nationality switch, as reported by the BBC.
According to the rule, players can change national affiliation if they have played no more than three competitive senior matches before turning 21.
Additionally, these appearances must not have occurred during the final stages of major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup or continental championships.
The rules further suggest that a minimum of three years must pass since the player's last senior appearance for their initial national team.
Also, the player must have been eligible for the new national team at the time of their initial appearance for the first country.
The FIFA regulations aim to balance the integrity of international competitions with the personal and professional considerations of the players.
Nketiah's possible impact on Black Stars
Eddie Nketiah's possible inclusion in the Black Stars squad could significantly enhance the team's attacking prowess.
He is known for his pace, positioning, and goal-scoring, and these qualities could complement existing forwards in the Black Stars.
His experience in the Premier League would also bring a level of professionalism and exposure to high-level competition, potentially benefiting younger players in the squad.
Nketiah on why he uses Ghanaian surname
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Eddie Nketiah had explained why he prefers his Ghanaian surname on his jersey.
The 25-year-old former Arsenal player is still eligible to represent Ghana despite representing England previously.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
