The on-loan Reims striker is wanted by the USA, England and Nigeria but has yet to make a decision over his international future – and there's no rush
With every goal that Folarin Balogun scores in France, the debate over his international future heats up.
Over in the United States they are desperate for the Arsenal striker, who is currently starring on loan with Reims in Ligue 1, to commit to the USMNT rather than England or Nigeria.Ā
But the 21-year-old has kept his options open so far, with Balogun seemingly happy to bide his time.
The longer he goes without making a decision, however, the more intense the speculation becomes, especially on the other side of the Atlantic, where the focus on Balogunās international allegiance is a constant source of discussion.
āWhat do we have to do to get Folarin Balogun?" former USMNT player Eric Wynalda said during a recent episode ofĀ . āThat guy changes everything for US Soccer.Ā
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āThe [USMNT Federation] got to throw the kitchen sink at him and make him a very rich man. We have to introduce him to some of our sponsors and make some commercials. Thatās the way the world works.Ā
āLook at Aaron Rodgers. Look at how much money that guyās made with State Farm. Look at Patrick Mahomes. Thatās the way we do things in America.
"I wouldnāt be surprised if the federation met up with his agent and offered to make him a very rich man."
Getty Images'What heās doing, itās just incredible'
Itās no surprise that Balogun is attracting a lot of attention at present, given the remarkable campaign he is enjoying with Reims.
He scored his 17th goal of the season at the weekend in a 2-1 defeat by Marseille ā only Jonathan David (19) and Kylian Mbappe (19) currently sit ahead of him in the Ligue 1 scoring charts.
Itās a remarkable record for a forward who is playing abroad for the first time in his young career.
Everyone at Arsenal is aware of Balogunās potential ā thatās why they were so keen to get him to sign a new long-term contract inĀ 2021.
However, even they have been surprised by just how impressively he is performing this season.
āIām so happy for him,ā Mikel Arteta said last month. āWhen you look at the numbers and what he is doing, itās just incredible. Itās very rare to see that.Ā
āBut heās got something special, thatās why we decided to give him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long term that he needs now.
āHeās a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. Heās really ambitious, really committed and really brave.ā
AdvertisementGetty Images'There is open dialogue with him and his team'
Balogun qualifies to play for the United States because he was born in New York.
He has been on the USMNT radar for some time now and they are ramping up their efforts to convince him to commit his international future to the country of his birth.
With the 2026 World Cup taking place in the States, they see Balogun as a striker they could potentially build their team around as they plan for a successful home tournament.
āThere is open dialogue with him and his team," USMNT caretaker manager Anthony Hudson confirmed to reporters ahead of Saturdayās game with Grenada. "That dialogue is continuing. Thatās all I can say.ā
Such is the level of excitement over Balogun in the United States, there was a genuine belief that he was about to commit to them when he took to social media soon after the announcement of Gareth Southgateās England squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.
Balogun posted a message which read āGo where youāre appreciatedā in the immediate aftermath of the squad announcement, which many read as a sign that he was frustrated at having not been included and was, thus, ready to declare for the US.
And the excitement level grew further on Wednesday when Balogun, who pulled out of the England U21s squad 24 hours earlier due to injury, posted a picture on social media which appeared to show that he was in Florida, where the USMNT is based during the international break.
Getty ImagesNo rush to make a decision
Whether Balogun's apparent trip to Orlando is a sign that he is about to commit to the USMNT remains to be seen, but if it is, it feels a bit premature on his part. He is in a very strong position right now, so there is no rush whatsoever.
The US may be desperate to get him on board, but he should ignore the noise for now and wait until the end of the 2023-24 season at least before deciding which country to represent at international level.
Balogun hasnāt even played in the Premier League yet, so he canāt expect to be anywhere near the England squad. He would be crazy to think one good season in France would be enough to see him go straight into Gareth Southgate's senior set-up.
He may be impressing with Reims right now, but scoring goals in Ligue 1 is not going to see him move ahead of Harry Kane or Ivan Toney in the England pecking order.Ā
Ollie Watkins has scored six goals in his last eight Premier League games and he didnāt make Southgateās squad, so what chance does Balogun have while playing in France?
Balogun is 21 and the next World Cup is still four years away. So, why make a decision now? There is simply no need to.
It would be insane to commit this early, especially when there is no clear long-term successor to Harry Kane, who turns 30 this summer.
If he wants to have a chance of playing for England ā which you would think he does; otherwise, he would have already declared for the US ā then he should remain patient.
Premier League opportunity on the horizon
His impressive form with Reims this season has put him in the shop window and left Arsenal with a big decision to make in the summer.
Premier League clubs will be queuing up to take him, either on loan or on a permanent deal, and the Gunners will have to decide whether he has a long-term future at the club.
Either way, the expectation is Balogun could get his opportunity to impress in the Premier League next season and thatās when he should make a decision over his international career.
Euro 2024 is just around the corner. A strong 2022-23 campaign could put the young forward in contention to play in Germany.
The noise over Balogunās international future is understandable, but he should ignore it and just focus on maintaining his fine form in France for now.
If he does that, then he will have every opportunity available to him over the next couple of years. Thatās when the time will be right to make one of the most important decisions of his footballing career.
