Callum Hudson-Odoi is set to change international allegiance from England to Ghana and take advantage of new FIFA rules.
The Chelsea star recently spent time in the West African country, where his roots lie, for a special visit.
As part of his plan to give back, Hudson-Odoi also held a meeting with President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House to discuss how to "improve football infrastructure and opportunities for children and young people" in the nation.
It's said the President specifically asked Mustapha Ussif, the Minister of Youth and Sports to try and convince the 20-year-old to represent the Black Stars going forward and the courting appears to have been successful.
Ghana Sports Online say Hudson-Odoi has made the decision to play for Ghana, with a key, final factor being the racist abuse suffered by three black England players after the Euro 2020 final.
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Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all subjected to monkey emojis and vile racial slurs online after missing in the penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy at Wembley.
Hudson-Odoi feels he too could receive the same treatment and so now has his heart set on playing for Ghana with the likes of Thomas Partey, Jeffrey Schlupp and Jordan and Andre Ayew.
He played for England from Under 16's onwards and, at the age of 18 years and 135 days, went on to become the youngest-ever player to play in competitive fixture when he was a substitute in the 5-0 Euro 2020 qualifier win over Czech Republic at Wembley in March 2019.
Hudson-Odoi has been capped three times for England's senior side and was selected for the Under 21's at the European Under 21's Championship earlier this year.
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Previously the player would have been unable to switch international allegiance but a rule change means he does still qualify because he has less than four appearances, his caps came before he turned 21 and none were at a major tournament.
As per FIFA, Rules state:
"Players can now switch national teams provided they are eligible to represent them as long as they have played no more than three matches (including friendlies), none of the matches were in the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup or confederation competition, and they all happened before the player turned 21."
He does still have to wait three years from his last cap - a 4-0 win over Kosovo - and so November 2022 will be the earliest date the move can be made official.
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However, it means the Champions League could potentially be playing for Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The winger did hint about playing for the birth country of his parents last month.
"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," he said, as per Joy Online.
"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.
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"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, so."
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chelsea, Football, England
