Ethan Nwaneri, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder loaned by Arsenal to Borussia Dortmund, is reportedly tempted to represent Nigeria rather than England, according to Nigerian media. No official confirmation has been given.
Will Ethan Nwaneri one day wear the Super Eagles shirt? The question has been stirring Nigerian supporters since local media, relayed by Live Bar and citing Blueprint, raised a possible U-turn by the 19-year-old attacking midfielder, currently on loan from Arsenal to Borussia Dortmund. According to PPSport, the player is considering switching national teams to represent Nigeria.
At this stage, neither the player nor the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has taken a public position. The information therefore remains a rumour.
A profile eligible for Nigeria
Born in England to a Nigerian father and an Anglo-French mother, Nwaneri holds dual nationality that makes him eligible for Nigeria, PPSport notes. His international career so far, however, points towards the Three Lions: he has come through every England youth level from the U16s to the U21s, and took part in an England training camp in the United States before the 2026 World Cup.
But the attacking midfielder has never played a single competitive match for the England senior team. Under FIFA rules, that absence still allows him to change his sporting nationality, PPSport and Live Bar stress. Any actual change would nonetheless have to be ratified by the world governing body.
His club career bears witness to rare precocity: trained at the Arsenal academy since the age of 8, he made his Premier League debut against Brentford in September 2022, at 15 years, 5 months and 28 days, becoming the youngest player in the history of the league. Loaned to Marseille in the second half of the 2025-26 season, he played 11 matches and scored 2 goals there before returning to London, then being loaned again to Dortmund from 1 September 2026 for the whole of the 2026-27 season.
Chelle on the lookout
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle is following the case closely. According to PPSport and Live Bar, he met the player’s entourage in London in 2025 and watched his performances in person during his loan at Marseille in the second half of the 2025-26 season. That monitoring contrasts with the lack of official communication on the subject.
Nwaneri recently followed the Nigerian national team’s official account on social media, a gesture that has fuelled supporters’ speculation.
Should he opt for the Super Eagles, he would have to contend with fierce competition: forward Ademola Lookman, attacking midfielder Alex Iwobi, and wingers Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon are all competing for the attacking positions, PPSport notes. Nigeria has already managed to convince England-trained players: full-back Ola Aina and Alex Iwobi have worn its colours.
A decision awaited, then FIFA
The saga should unfold in two stages: a decision by the player, then FIFA’s ratification of the change of sporting nationality.
Nigeria’s next international window, in November 2026, could provide an initial answer.