Callum Hudson-Odoi has rejected the chance to play at the 2022 Qatar World Cup with Ghana and will instead hold off on deciding his international future.
The Chelsea winger is currently out on loan Bayer Leverkusen this season and has become a key figure for the German outfit, who sit 10th in Bundesliga.
Though while they weren’t enough to secure him a place in England’s World Cup squad, Hudson-Odoi’s impressive performances have caught the eye of Ghana as they look to strengthen their side ahead of the tournament.
The 22-year-old is eligible to play for the African nation through his Ghanaian parents, meaning he could still switch his international allegiance despite making three senior appearances for England.
All three of those caps were earned before he turned 21, which allows him to play for another nation if he wishes.
His last Three Lions appearance came in a Euro 2020 qualifying victory over minnows Kosovo in 2019, having been included in Gareth Southgate’s squad after late injuries to key figures.
Husdon-Odoi reportedly considered his future as an England player this year, a stance which is unlikely to have changed after he failed to earn a place in Southgate’s World Cup squad, and Ghana are now keen to incorporate him into their squad for the Qatar showpiece.
However, for now he has decided against switching his international allegiance after turning down a Ghana call-up for the upcoming World Cup, according to the Evening Standard.
Hudson-Odoi is instead keen to focus on club football at Leverkusen and will use the six-week break caused by the tournament to work on improving his game ahead of the second half of the season.
The Black Stars are one of five African sides heading to the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Nigeria in March secured their ticket, with a wealth of Premier League talent representing the nation.
Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey and Arsenal’s Thomas Partey are amongst their Premier League contingent, with Ghana drawn alongside Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea in Group H.