Promising striker Folarin Balogun could solve the USA’s biggest problem position as he picks USMNT over England. The 21-year-old forward, on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims from Arsenal. He was born to Nigerian parents in New York City and emigrated to England at the age of two. Balogun had represented both the US and England at the youth level, scoring seven goals in 13 caps for the latter’s Under-21 side.
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Folarin Balogun has arisen as perhaps of the most exceptionally promoted young strikers in the sport this season. scoring 20 goals in 35 games in the French league this season for Reims. He is expected to be sold by Arsenal this summer with the Gunners waiting for £35 million for their academy graduate.
Why did Folarin Balogun choose the USMNT?
Folarin Balogun, born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, then spent most of his childhood in London. said the choice to play for the U.S. was taken with his family.
“We decided it would be the right thing for me, to represent the country I was born in. In the end it became a no-brainer,” he said in an interview published by the USSF.
In March, Folarin Balogun pulled out of an England U-21 squad and traveled to Florida for the for the Under-21 European Championship hosted by Romania and Georgia. where the USMNT was training. He left without publicly committing, but over the weeks and months after that visit, he made his decision.
FIFA said in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday that it approved a request to change Balogun’s national team affiliation from England, which he had represented at the under-21 level.
Balogun confirmed the move in a video on his social media accounts using the slogans “I’m coming home” and “Let’s make history.”
