The President of U.S Soccer, Sunil Gulati, has taken to Twitter to confirm that Arsenal’s Gedion Zelalem is now eligible to represent the USA at international level.
Zelalem, who was born in Germany to Ethiopian parents and lived in Maryland for six years, moved to the Gunners youth academy two-years ago and has since garnered two first team appearances, including a run out as a substitute in this season’s Champions League clash at Galatasaray.
ESPN report that the 18-year-old has now been added to the US squad for the under-20 World Cup being played in New Zealand this summer and that FIFA’s decision also makes him eligible for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and the under-23 team that will go to Olympic qualifying in October.
Given Arsenal’s proliferation of midfield options it’s hard to imagine the young man will be challenging for regular football at the Emirates next season. Moreover, his cause won’t be helped by missing most of pre-season. That being said, he is highly rated and with time very much on his side his is a career to watch.
Nothing more satisfying then bringing through one of you’re own. Top talent, hope he does well !
your* Doh
Hasn’t kicked on like Cesc, who I thought he would emulate. But still very young, needs to bulk up but has the skills. Could be outstanding for the USA.
We’re also in a different situation now than we were when Cesc broke through, which was when the old guard started getting sold off, paving the way for him. Zelalem has Ozil, Ramsey, Cazorla, Wilshere and others in front of him.
Good point, will be tough for him. And Cesc was exceptional for his age (he had Vieira, Gilberto and Edu, amongst others, in the team when he started), whatever we think about him now.
That’s why we have to do better in the “TinPot Cup” where the youngsters are played.
I personally thought he’d play for USAENGERTHOPIA.
No one will come close to what Cesc was at 16 for 30 years.
G-Man is Gideon!? Gideon is G-Man!?! No way is he going to take Ramona Flowers from Scott Pilgrim!
Seriously though he could be great for the Sex Bombs … i mean USMNT.
I’m sure this is in reference to something but I have no idea what it is.
I hope it’s a reference to something.
It’s a reference to Scott Pilgrim vs the World. An excellent film 🙂
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
It’s okay, I got the reference, have a thumb.
I was in lesbians with your comment.
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World! Come on people, that was an easy one 🙂
Maybe it’s because it was a Canadian movie based in Toronto – that might be why no one’s heard of it.
I’m looking forward to watching him here in NZ during the U-20 World Cup
You and me bud!
What a pity.
He’s very, very technically gifted but I warn people not to believe all the hype. Progression has stalled with him and he seems disinterested to put in much work off the ball. Having said that, he still has the potential to be a top player.
Btw, is that you Jeorge?
If he chose the country where he was born and raised, he could be playing with Neuer, ter Stegen, Hummels, Kroos, Khedira, Meyer, Draxler, Gnabry Schweinsteiger, Gundogan, Gotze, Ozil, Reus, Schurrle, Muller…
Instead he’ll take the easy option, and end up playing with Billy Bob McBanjo, Bubba Duke Earl, Devante Devyne LeShawn, Woody Doody McFloody Jnr The Third and DeAndre Yedlin.
He lived in the USA from the age of 10 to 16. This is an age when you do most of your mental growing up so in his defence, he probably identifies himself as being more American than German. I don’t blame him for choosing the USA despite the fact he could have had a better education with Germany. In football, more often than not, when given the choice between nations I think players tend to go with the country they identify themselves with.
Racist and bigoted.
I prefer to think of it as a Musitative Rumination Upon the Diverse and Delightful Differences Pertaining to the Relative Comparitive Strengths of the National Football, or Soccer, as It May Be, Teams in Question, Being, Namely, the American and Germanic, myself. But whatever floats your boat.
I’ve just spent the last week reading books and articles with titles that long. Love it.
One could argue where he was actually “raised,” considering his age and how much of it was spent in the US. What isn’t arguable, however, is the fact that he’d have a very hard time ever making it onto the pitch in a German uniform, whereas in the US, he’ll be considered the future of the team and will have lots of time and resources spent on developing him. I don’t think Klinsmann forgot everything he knew about the game as soon as his plane touched down in the United States.
Yeah he could be playing with those guys. Or he could be watching them for the bench which unfortunately is more likely. At least with Devante Devyne LeShawn he’d actually be getting some game time.
Or playing with Mix Diskerud! Nobody on the German team has a name as cool as Mix, or hair as fabulous.
He’s taken the option that could make him the richest player in the world. IF (big IF!) he does fulfil his footballing potential then his earning potential for an American top football player will be amazing. Tiger Woods wasn’t the only top American golfer and look how much he earned in ‘endorsements’.
Zelalem could easily be the only top footballer they have for a few years.
Meh
I blame Bergkamp for making everyone want to be a number 10.
I’m I the only one to be annoyed when they call the beautiful game soccer? And they play football with their hands too.
Soccer is actually an English term for footy.
I’m more pissed that they call their game football when it’s closer to rugby….
Pissed off, do you mean?
Rather than pissed ie drunk?
yes.
I wonder if this lad will ever actually play for the Arse (i.e. more than 20 minutes in a cup match against Coventry city).
Haven’t seen much of him but he seems lazy and doesn’t impress me much considering all the hype.
I Hear people say the same thing about Ozil too, just because he doesn’t run around like a chicken with his head cut off doesn’t mean he’s lazy.
I don’t need to see anyone running around like an idiot to be impressed and I’ve been perfectly capable of seeing what Mesut contributes from day one, so don’t be condescending. I just don’t think that Zelalem is anywhere near as good as his repuation. I think he’s probably better off with America where he can be an automatic star, whereas he’d have to fight to get into any German team, and he doesn’t seem to be a fighter.
Haven’t watched a lot of the academy this season, but been reading the reports after every game.
They haven’t been kind to him.
He is technically near complete, which Wenger has always favoured hugely in the past, but has seldom been an indication of future breakthrough.
Ironically enough, our most recent academy breakthrough, Coquelin, was never that technically complete and never featured as a “Wenger starlet fav” the way some in the past have like Zelalem. Yet look at him now.
Fair enough, no offense intended. I agree the opportunity with the USMNT is much better for him.
I have to laugh at the denigration of the USA team. Granted they are nowhere near Germany. But they are definitely on the level of England. Look at each team’s performance in the last world cup. And they are on the way up. Not sure England can say the same, at least until they get Wilshere, Gibbs, Theo, Ox and Welbeck on the pitch.
Needs to go out on loan maybe second half of season.
Stay in and around first team first half of season, get some League cup games.
Should have gone with Germany. US ‘soccer’ is improving though and will benefit from the likes of Zelalem.
The US is frankly overlooked both as a market and as a talent pool.
Arsenal should be making more inroads to the Americas and use the US with its generous facilities as a stepping stone in culling future talent from Concacef area plus the grow the brand in America(s).
I think you’ll find that every big team in Europe is desperate for an American starlet. Look at the major interest there was in Freddie Adu, who’s seriously under achieved but still earnt good money. They know how many shirts they could sell there. The problem is that they have very few players at PL standard and they’d rather go elsewhere to get game time, but they still don’t make the step up enough to then join one of the big teams. Zelalem is our great hope to make that step and open the states as a real commercial door… Read more »