Ghana's football authorities have made a fresh attempt to persuade Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah to switch his international allegiance from England, according to a report from Standard Sport. The Black Stars are understood to have held a long-standing interest in the forward and have now renewed their efforts to convince him to commit his future to the country of his parents' heritage.
Nketiah, 27, was born in Lewisham, south London, to Ghanaian parents and came through England's youth ranks, where he was the most prolific scorer at Under-21 level for the Three Lions. Despite that pedigree, his senior international career has been limited to a single appearance. He was capped once under former England manager Gareth Southgate, coming on as a substitute for Ollie Watkins in the 73rd minute of a 1-0 friendly victory over Australia at Wembley in October 2023.
Because that solitary outing came before his 21st birthday and fell short of the three-appearance threshold required under FIFA's eligibility rules, Nketiah remains free to switch allegiance to Ghana should he choose to do so. Governing body regulations state that a player must feature in more than three competitive senior fixtures for a nation before turning 21 in order to be permanently tied to that country. As things stand, Nketiah's single cap does not meet that criteria, leaving the door open for Ghana to pursue him.
The report indicates that the striker is still weighing up his international options and has not yet reached a definitive decision on the matter. Should he opt for Ghana, he would join a group of Premier League-based talent already representing the Black Stars, including Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo and Coventry City midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi. Ghana's football hierarchy views Nketiah as another potential asset who could bolster the squad's attacking quality on the international stage.
On the club front, Nketiah's form has shown signs of improvement after a spell disrupted by injury problems. He has started all three of Crystal Palace's Premier League matches so far this season under new head coach Pierre Sage, suggesting he is regaining fitness and confidence following a challenging period.
The timing of Ghana's renewed approach comes as Nketiah looks to reestablish himself following his move away from Arsenal, where he came through the academy system before departing for regular first-team opportunities elsewhere. His early-season involvement under Sage at Palace has been viewed as a positive sign, with the forward featuring prominently in the team's opening fixtures.
For Ghana, securing Nketiah's commitment would represent a notable coup, adding a player with Premier League experience and a proven scoring record at youth international level to their ranks. The Black Stars have been active in identifying players of Ghanaian descent based in England and elsewhere who remain eligible to switch allegiances, and Nketiah is seen as one of the more prominent targets given his profile and current club form.
No timeline has been given for when Nketiah might make his decision public, and it remains to be seen whether England's football association will make any counter-effort to keep him in their fold, given his existing senior cap and history within their youth setup.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.