Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah is reportedly on the verge of switching his international allegiance from England to Ghana, with the necessary paperwork being prepared for submission to FIFA.
The development could bring an end to the long-running uncertainty surrounding the 27-year-old forward’s international future, as Ghana continues to strengthen its squad with players of Ghanaian heritage.
Nketiah, who was born in Lewisham, England, to Ghanaian parents, has represented England at several youth levels and is the all-time leading scorer for the England Under-21 team with 16 goals. He also made one senior appearance for the Three Lions in October 2023 during a friendly against Australia.
That senior appearance, however, does not prevent him from changing his international allegiance because it came in a non-competitive fixture. FIFA regulations allow players who meet the relevant eligibility requirements to apply for a change of association.
According to the latest report, Nketiah’s camp is now preparing the required documents for submission to FIFA, marking a potentially significant step towards the striker eventually representing the Ghana Black Stars.
The possibility of Nketiah choosing Ghana has been discussed for several years. His father, Edward Nketiah Snr, confirmed in June that Ghanaian officials, including representatives from the Sports Ministry, had approached the family regarding the striker’s international future.
“He loves Ghana,” Nketiah’s father said, while stressing that the final decision would be made by his son.
Nketiah himself has previously acknowledged his Ghanaian roots and remained open to the possibility of playing for the Black Stars. He has also said in the past that he was open to representing either England or Ghana.
If the paperwork is formally submitted, Nketiah would still need FIFA approval before becoming eligible to represent Ghana. FIFA states that a player whose change-of-association application is under consideration cannot represent a national team until a decision has been reached.
For Ghana, a successful switch would provide another experienced Premier League forward to compete for a place in the Black Stars squad.
While the latest development has raised excitement among Ghanaian supporters, the process is not complete yet. FIFA approval remains the final step before Nketiah can officially represent Ghana in international football.
