Callum Hudson-Odoi refuses to shut door on Ghana after England snub

Could Callum Hudson-Odoi become the latest youngster to turn his back on England? Chelsea star says ‘we’ll see’ when asked about switching allegiance to Ghana… even though he already has three caps for the Three Lions!

• Callum Hudson-Odoi has hinted at potentially representing Ghana in the future
• The Chelsea star was capped three times at senior level by England in 2019
• The 20-year-old would be eligible to apply for the switch in November 2022
• Wilfried Zaha and Jamal Musiala among those to turn back on England in the past

Callum Hudson-Odoi has hinted at a possible switch to represent Ghana at international level in the future despite being capped three times at senior level by England.

The 20-year-old made his senior debut for England as a substitute against Czech Republic in 2019, before making his first start a few days later against Montenegro.

However, Hudson-Odoi is eligible to play for Ghana, where he is currently on holiday, through his father, and the Chelsea youngster has refused to rule out changing his allegiance.

Callum Hudson-Odoi refused to rule out making the switch to play for Ghana in the future

The Chelsea forward is currently on holiday in Ghana and could be eligible to represent them

The 20-year-old was capped three times at senior level by England towards the end of 2019

‘I think obviously when you’re young, you have the opportunity to play for England throughout all the years, from under 15 to under 16 all the way up,’ Hudson-Odoi said, as reported by Joy Sports.

‘When they obviously gave me the opportunity to come I was in the country already. It’s something that I already had in my mind, set on already playing for England.’

‘So it was the thing obviously choosing Ghana or England, and at the end of the day I said I always had the right people around me who always advise me – what’s right, what’s wrong. England came and I said ‘Yeah, let me go and play for my country.

‘But I said Ghana is my home as well, so we’ll see, we’ll see. You’ll never know.’

FIFA rules state that Hudson-Odoi would be able to represent Ghana in the future, as he has not played more than three senior matches for England.

Hudson-Odoi will be able to apply for the switch in November 2022 should he decide to do so

Those games all came before he turned 21 as is required, but he would need to wait to make an application until three years after his last appearance for England.

That came on November 17 in 2019, so theoretically Hudson-Odoi could make the application on the same date in 2022, which would be shortly before the World Cup got underway. 

England will be hoping the youngster doesn’t follow the lead of other players to have turned their back on representing them recently, most notably Jamal Musiala.

The 18-year-old played for the Three Lions at Under 17 and Under 21 level, but pledged his future to Germany in February after the two countries battled to secure his services.

Jamal Musiala (R) alongside Toni Kroos after being selected in Germany’s squad for Euro 2020

In March, Sportsmail reported that Jamaica were plotting to persuade as many as 15 English players to switch their international allegiance, with Michail Antonio and Ivan Toney among those targeted.

It’s understood Ethan Pinnock, Andre Gray, Rolando Aarons and Jamal Lowe, as well as Rangers forward Kemar Roofe, are among those who will make the switch in the summer.

Wilfried Zaha turned his back on England in favour of Ivory Coast after feeling he was not getting the opportunities he deserved, and in a 2018 interview revealed he had no regrets over his decision.

Wilfried Zaha represented England at youth level but has played for Ivory Coast since 2017

‘It was just like I was rejected from the England side,’ Zaha told CNN Sport. ‘I didn’t get picked or even get a look in for four years.

‘Four years in football is a long time so it’s like there’s no regret at all. No one even thought about me at all. And Ivory Coast, even though I told them no, they still had the belief in me and still wanted me because they knew what I could do for the team.

‘Obviously we may not be in the World Cup but it’s just a learning curve. From there, what we need to do is just get better and hopefully try and get into the next one.

‘As for me not playing for England, I’ve got no regret at all. I’m happy with the decision I made.’

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