Arsenal's on-loan striker Folarin Balogun finally opts for US over Nigeria and England

ARSENAL'S on-loan striker Folarin Balogun has finally ended the speculation about his international future after months of endless speculation by opting to represent the US national team at senior level in p[reference to Nigeria and England.

Balogun, 21, was born in New York and has represented the US at U18 level but he currently plays for England's U21s. In a rich vein of form at the moment, the striker has been loaned out to French side Reim for the season by his parent club Arsenal and he is in the form of his life at the moment, scoring for fun, which has led to a scramble for his services at international level.

In March this year, Balogun posted a picture on Instagram taken in Orlando, Florida where the US men's national team was spending its international break. This prompted speculation that he has finally chosen the US as the team he wants to play for  at senior level and after months of rumours, the striker has finally come out to confirm that this is the case.

England manager Gareth Southgate, had told the striker to carefully think about changing his international allegiance from England to the US, pointing out that amid all this aggressive recruitment from other nations Balogun may live to regret not opting for the Three Lions. However, it appears that the striker has realised that he is never going to get the number nine short ahead of Harry Kane as Euro 2024 looms.

US and Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner confirmed that he has been working on getting Balogun to play for his nation of birth. Anthony Hudson, the US interim manager, has also been working on the striker, pointing out that Balogun is eager to make the step up to senior international football and the US are willing to facilitate that.

Nigeria has also made overtures to the striker but with the Super Eagles, he will face the same problem he is confronted with in the England camp. It will be nigh impossible for Balogun to wrestle the Nigerian number nine shirt from Victor Osimhen.