Callum Hudson-Odoi ‘REJECTS World Cup opportunity with Ghana’
>
Callum Hudson-Odoi ‘turns down World Cup opportunity with Ghana’ as loaned Chelsea star keeps chance of representing England in future despite being turned down by Gareth Southgate
- Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi rejected Ghana’s World Cup call-up
- The 22-year-old previously considered changing his allegiance to Ghana
- Hudson-Odoi has made three senior appearances for Gareth Southgate’s side
- And has now dedicated his international future to playing for England
Callum Hudson-Odoi has sensationally turned down a World Cup call-up and the opportunity to play in Qatar after deciding to postpone his national playing future.
The Chelsea winger is on loan to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and has become a key figure with the German team during his current stint, with the club ranked 10th in the league standings.
British-born Hudson-Odoi has captured Ghana’s attention with his performances this season, while the Black Stars look to bolster their ranks with foreign talent on their way to the World Cup.
Callum Hudson-Odoi turned down chance to represent Ghana at World Cup
The Chelsea Academy product has made three senior appearances for the Three Lions
The 22-year-old is eligible to play for the African nation thanks to his parents’ ties to the country and could change his international allegiance despite playing for England three times in the first season.
Hudson-Odoi is currently on loan at Bayer Leverkusen
All of his appearances to date have been made before he turned 21, meaning the Chelsea Academy product can freely switch to play for another country if he decides to do so.
His last Three Lions appearance came in England’s 4-0 victory in the European Championship qualifier over Kosovo, with the versatile attacker subsequently chosen to join Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad following late injuries to key players.
Husdon-Odoi reportedly contemplated his future as an England player heading into the World Cup year, while Ghana vie to include the star in their squad of hopeful Qatar.
However, he has now chosen not to change his international allegiance by turning down an appeal to Ghana and the chance to represent the African side in the Middle East, according to the Evening standard.
Hudson-Odoi is keen to focus on his club football at Leverkusen and will use the six-week hiatus caused by the tournament to work on improving his game in the second half of the season.
Fans from Ghana going to the World Cup will not see Hudson-Odoi play for the country
The 22-year-old has chosen to dedicate his future to England, despite Ghana’s strong interest
The Black Stars are one of five African teams heading to the World Cup after securing their ticket to Qatar after a 1-1 draw with Nigeria in March, with a wealth of Premier League talent representing the nation.
Tariq Lamptey of Brighton and Thomas Partey of Arsenal are part of Ghana’s Premier League contingent as the country occupy Group H alongside Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.