Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun has left fans fearing that he may switch to the USA national team after being left out of the England squad. The striker has been on loan at Stade Reims this season, where he has impressed with 17 goals in 27 Ligue Un games. However, Gareth Southgate did not give Balogun his first England call-up, which prompted him to post a cryptic message on Instagram that read: “In life go where you are appreciated.” Balogun later withdrew from the England Under-21s squad due to injury.
Now, Balogun has fuelled speculation that he may be considering a switch to the USA national team by posting photos from Orlando, Florida, where the team is currently training ahead of games against Grenada and El Salvador in the CONCACAF Nations League. Balogun captioned the photos with the words: “you know what to do.” Fans have expressed their disappointment at the possibility of losing one of England’s best young talents, with some blaming Southgate for not giving Balogun a chance.
Balogun’s potential switch to the USA would not be unprecedented. In recent years, several players have chosen to represent the US national team over other countries, including Sergiño Dest, who chose the US over the Netherlands, and Yunus Musah, who chose the US over England. The US national team has been making strides in recent years, with a talented young squad that includes players such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie.
However, Balogun’s decision to switch to the USA would not be an easy one. He was born in New York but moved to England at a young age and has represented England at various youth levels. In addition, he would need to go through a lengthy process to obtain US citizenship and be eligible to play for the national team.
Balogun’s situation highlights the challenges faced by dual-nationality players in choosing which country to represent. While some players may feel a stronger connection to one country over another, others may choose based on their chances of playing at the international level. In Balogun’s case, it remains to be seen whether he will choose to stick with England or switch to the USA.
Regardless of his decision, Balogun’s future looks bright. He has shown great promise during his loan spell at Stade Reims and is highly regarded by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, there is likely to be plenty of interest in his services from other clubs. Whether he stays in England or moves abroad, Balogun is sure to be a player to watch in the coming years.