Arsenal's Super Eagles-eligible striker Balogun pulls out of England U21 squad 

Arsenal-owned striker Folarin Balogun will not add to his international caps for the Young Lions this month. 

The English Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that the Stade de Reims star has withdrawn from the England U21 squad for their upcoming matches against France and Croatia on Saturday and Tuesday respectively.

Swansea City defender Nathan Wood has been handed a late call-up following the withdrawals of the Super Eagles-eligible player and Jarrad Branthwaite.

The Football Association have cited injury as the reason for Balogun's withdrawal.

The 21-year-old went the full ninety as Stade de Reims were beaten 2-1 by Marseille in their last game before the international break, and took his tally to eighteen in all competitions with his goal in the first half.  

Balogun is the third hightest scorer in the French top-flight this term, behind Lille's Jonathan David and Paris Saint Germain's France captain Kylian Mbappé, who are both on nineteen goals each, two more than the Arsenal loanee. 

Last week, United States Men's National Team caretaker manager Anthony Hudson confirmed that talks are ongoing over recruiting Balogun to play for The Stars and Stripes. 

Although Balogun is provisionally cap-tied to England, he 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.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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