Eddie Nketiah: How England Youth International Was Rejected By Ghana at the U17 Level

• Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah is in talks with the Ghana Football Association over a nationality switch
• The England-born Ghanaian recently signed a contract extension at Arsenal and is preparing ahead of the new season
• Eddie Nketiah was reportedly rejected by Ghana at the U17 level before leaving to feature for the youth teams of England

Eddie Nketiah's international career has seen him go back and forth with the national youth teams of Ghana and England.

The Arsenal is currently in talks with the Ghana Football Association over a nationality switch before the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Nketiah was shockingly rejected by the Ghana U17 team in the past after auditioning to be a part of the Black Starlets.

According for Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association, Ibrahim Saanie Daara, there were instances where players born in the diaspora failed to make the junior national teams, with Nketiah being one of them.

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“I am also aware that players like Eddie Nketiah came to the Ghana U-17 team and was told that he was not cut for it several years ago," he told Joy Sports as quoted by Mordernghana.com.

Nketiah moved on to play for the junior teams of England and currently holds the record as the highest scorer at the U21 level, beating legendary Alan Shearers 13 goal haul.

The Arsenal star despite the rejection, revealed earlier this year was available for selection, but will have to sort his club career first.

“My parents are both Ghanaian, so of course, it’s a possibility. I am open to both – playing for Ghana or England,” Nketiah told The Beautiful Game podcast.

“Like you said, I’ve played for the youth teams so naturally when I was obviously younger, they called me up to go play for them.

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“Being from Ghana, you are obviously happy they have qualified for the World Cup. I know players like [Thomas] Partey [and] I am happy for them as well. It’s always good to have that opportunity to potentially do that.”

The Ghana Football Association will be hoping to get the England youth international ready for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Eddie Nketiah delighted after signing a new contract at Arsenal

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that incoming Ghanaian forward Eddie Nketiah says he has an 'unfinished business' at Arsenal following his five-year contract extension with the Gunners.

The 23-year-old is out of contract at Arsenal at the end of the season but his performances this year have encouraged the Gunners to keep hold of him.

Nektiah made 92 first-team appearances and scored 23 goals since his first-team debut in 2017.