After months of speculation, Folarin Balogun has made a significant decision by choosing to represent the United States of America (USA) instead of England and Nigeria.
The 21-year-old football player, currently on loan with French side Reims from Arsenal, was born in the US to Nigerian parents but raised in England. Balogun's switch of allegiance came after being overlooked by England manager Gareth Southgate.
Balogun had previously represented the US at the under-18 level before switching to England's Under-21s. However, due to injury, he withdrew from the squad in March and will not participate in the upcoming European Under-21 Championship.
According to FIFA rules, players are allowed to switch national eligibility before making a competitive senior appearance at the international level. On Tuesday, May 16, FIFA approved Balogun's switch from England to the US, opening the way for him to become a key player for the US Men's National Team (USMNT).
In an interview with US Soccer's official website, Balogun expressed that the decision was an obvious choice for him, and he feels a sense of belonging and comfort representing the United States.
Balogun shared his excitement, saying:
"When I broke the news to my family, they were all just over the moon, especially my mom. She said, 'What took you so long?'"
"To represent the United States means a lot, more than people would know. I'm very proud and honored to have this opportunity, and I want to give everything I have to make our team successful."
.@Balogun on what it means to represent the United States 🗯️
— U.S. Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) May 16, 2023
It is worth noting that Balogun had previously expressed his openness to representing Nigeria. He has been in impressive form, scoring 19 goals in 34 Ligue 1 matches for Reims this season.
Following his switch of allegiance, Balogun is expected to join the U.S. team at the CONCACAF Nations League finals next month.