USA coach confirms talks are ongoing over recruiting Arsenal's Super Eagles-eligible striker

United States Men's National Team caretaker manager Anthony Hudson has confirmed that talks are ongoing over recruiting Arsenal-owned striker Folarin Balogun.

Balogun is eligible to represent the United States as he was born in New York to Nigerian parents, and has played non-binding games for the Americans at youth level. 

The Hale End Academy product also qualifies to play international football for the Super Eagles as well as England, where he grew up.

Although he is provisionally cap-tied to England, Balogun has not officially pledged his international allegiance to any of the countries he's eligible for, so the United States are trying to tempt him to play for them ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The 21-year-old's career has skyrocketed on the back of an outstanding season that has seen him score seventeen goals in 28 all-competition appearances for Stade de Reims. 

In quotes relayed by Goal. com, Hudson told reporters : "All I’ll say, there is open dialogue with him and his team. That dialogue is continuing. That’s all I can say".

US Soccer previously beat Nigeria to the services of Oguchi Onyewu and Maurice Edu who both represented the Stars and Stripes at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Nigerian-born defender George Bello and West Brom's Daryl Dike are cap-tied to the Americas, with the latter making the roster for Nations League matches this month.

Ifeany Emmanuel 

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