Eddie Nketiah’s Decision: Why He Chose England over Ghana

Eddie Nketiah, the English striker of Ghanaian descent, recently explained his decision to accept England’s call-up, emphasizing the importance of the “natural progression” of his career.

Having represented England at various levels, including captaining the U-21 team, Nketiah received his debut senior team call-up to play against Ukraine and Scotland during the international break. Speaking at a press conference, the Lewisham-born player acknowledged the allure of the invitation and the timing for this crucial step in his career.

🗣️ “Once the call-up was there it was really hard to turn down.”

Eddie Nketiah on opting to play for England over Ghana. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/O1gUPQhzzM

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 5, 2023

“I always aspired to play for England, and as I mentioned before, when the call-up came and the opportunity was presented, it was a really tough decision to decline.

I believe it’s the next logical step for me at this point in my career. I thought now was the perfect moment to take that leap, and I’m genuinely thrilled to be here. Hopefully, I can contribute to the team this week and earn some caps.”

Despite Ghana’s expressed interest in Nketiah, with discussions reportedly held with the Ghana Football Association regarding a potential nationality switch, the English-born Ghanaian ultimately opted to represent England.

While he did secure a Ghanaian passport during the process, his call-up to the Three Lions sealed his international fate.

Nketiah is now poised for his senior debut when England faces Poland in their first game of the break, challenging Ukraine on September 9, 2023.