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Arsenal's Balogun switches from England to United States - FIFA / Photo: © AFP
Arsenal's Balogun switches from England to United States - FIFA
Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has switched national team allegiances from England to the United States, FIFA said on Tuesday.
"The change of association of the player Folarin Jolaoluwa Balogun from England to the USA has been approved," a FIFA spokesperson said.
The New York-born Balogun, who moved to England as a two-year-old, could have represented the United States, England and Nigeria, the country of his parents birth.
Although Balogun has played youth football for the United States, most of his representative career has been with England where he has been part of the Under-21 team.
FIFA rules allow players to switch nationality before they have played a full, competitive game for the senior national team.
Interest from the United States has intensified this season as the 21-year-old has impressed during a loan spell with French Ligue 1 club Reims, netting 19 goals in 34 appearances.
In March, Balogun was spotted in Florida where the US were preparing for a CONCACAF Nations League game, further fuelling speculation of a switch.
The US's interim coach Anthony Hudson, confirmed that Balogun had met with federation officials to discuss his future.
Balogun had pulled out of England Under-21 duty before making that trip and Gareth Southgate, the England manager, had said the eventual choice was entirely down to the player.
"It is up to the player to weigh up where his heart feels. Is he prepared to wait a little bit for an opportunity if he backs himself and feels he can push his way into our squad?
"Because anybody who has followed us will know that we will give young players a chance. So, we cannot go and give first-team call-ups to someone just because we don’t want them to go somewhere else," he said.
A product of Arsenal's youth system, Balogun spent last season on loan with English Championship club Middlesbrough, scoring three goals in 18 league appearances, starting nine times.
The United States, who are currently engaged in a search for a permanent national team coach after World Cup boss Gregg Berhalter's contract ran out, have lacked a quality central striker in recent years.
The US's next games are in the final four of the CONCACAF Nations League where they play Mexico in Las Vegas on June 15 in the semi-final.
M. Tschebyachkinchoy--BTZ
