England is seen as one of the best countries for producing young footballing talents due to their exceptional, world-class youth clubs and facilities.

If you liked this article therefore you would like to acquire more info relating to zolobus nicely visit the website. Their state of the art youth programmes nationwide aid them in discovering hidden gems and developing them into football household names.

However, at the level and pace these youngsters are being developed at, it has been hard for some to break into the England national squad.



Those who don't want to wait their turn have opted to find game time elsewhere playing for a country they also have ties with.

Here, are 10 of the most high-profile players who have represented England at any level before switching allegiance to represent another nation.




England boss Gareth Southgate has plenty of talent to call upon but some players eligible to represent the Three Lions have taken the decision to represent other national teams

Your browser does not support iframes.


 



Jamal Musiala (Germany)
Starting off the list with one which will definitely pierce through the hearts of England fans nationwide. 

Bayern Munich wonderkid Jamal Musiala fully announced himself to the world with a mesmerising performance against Lazio in the 2020-21 Champions League.

The 21-year-old opted to play for four-time World Cup Champions, Germany over England despite representing the latter throughout his youth career.

Speaking on his decision, the Bayern winger told the Athletic: 'I've thought about this question a lot. What is best for my future? Where do I have more chances to play?'

'In the end, I just listened to the feeling that over a long period of time kept telling me that it was the right decision to play for Germany, the land I was born in. Still, it wasn't an easy decision for me!'











Jamal Musiala ended up picking Germany over England because he believed he would get more game time with the country he was born in



 



Ben Brereton Diaz (Chile)
Ben Brereton Diaz has a story like no other, from playing in England lower divisions to becoming a national football icon for Chile, his football journey is one for the history books.

Having represented England briefly at youth level, Brereton Diaz is also eligible to play for Chile as his mother is from there.

Once Chileans found this out, they demanded their football association call the current Sheffield United player up and the rest is history.

In no time, he changed his name from Ben Brereton to Ben Brereton Diaz and was playing for the Chilean side in the Copa America.

However, the forward has to earn his place back in the national side setup after Chile's manager Ricardo Gareca recently revealed that he had been dropped from the team due to his unwillingness to learn Spanish despite making his debut in 2021.











Diaz however was recently dropped by manager Ricardo Gareca  due to his unwillingness to learn Spanish despite making his debut in 2021



 



Michail Antonio (Jamaica)
Michail Antonio has proved himself to be quite prolific in front of goal over the past few seasons in the Premier League with West Ham.

Now 33-years-old, Antonio has an impressive goal tally - having registered 125 club goals throughout his senior career.

The English-born player decided he was going to play for England in 2016 but after being an unused substitute after a couple of call-ups, opted to switch and play for play for Jamaica instead

Antonio made his debut for the Reggae Boyz against Panama in September 2021. He has scored three goals in 14 international matches.











Antonio ultimately turned his back on playing for England, electing to play for Jamaica instead



 



Wilfred Zaha (Ivory Coast)
Current Galatasaray forward Wilfred Zaha was once upon a time England's most promising youth prodigy.

After shining at Under-21 level, Zaha made his Three Lions debut for the seniors as a substitute against Sweden in November 2012. He made another appearance in 2013 before being overlooked for future selections.

Following years of international wilderness, Zaha decided he would represent Ivory Coast, his parents home country, despite current England manager Gareth Southgate's best efforts to talk him out of it.

His decision was made final when he received a phone call from African and Ivorian legend Didier Drogba who told him he should play for the Ivory Coast.

He made his debut on January 8, 2017 and has since won 33 caps.

Zaha was overlooked for the Ivory Coast's squad for this year's Africa Cup of Nations, with the hosts eventually winning the title after a memorable campaign. 











Wilfried Zaha decided he would represent the Ivory Coast after being overlooked by England



 



Ryan Giggs (Wales)
Born in Cardiff to Welsh parents, England fans held out little hope that the Manchester United legend would play for the Three Lions one day.

However, charter bus family reunions Brooklyn there was a time - way back when - that Giggs did play for England.

Growing up, he went to school in Salford and represented England at schoolboy level before making his Welsh national team debut in 1991.  





Ultimately Giggs chose to play for the country where he was born and spent many years 



 



Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
Once Arsenal's biggest academy prospect, Alex Iwobi plays his international football with Nigeria.

However, this wasn't always the case, during his earlier teenager years Iwobi played for England U16, 17 and 18 squads - where he even lifted the Victory Shield in 2011.

Although Iwobi managed to make it young at club level, an England call-up seemed worlds away so he opted to play for Nigeria in 2015.  











Alex Iwobi once represented England at youth level before deciding to play for Nigeria



 



Ciaran Clark (Republic of Ireland)
Irish international Ciaran Clark was born and bred in England having been born in Harrow, London and grew up in Sandy, Bedfordshire.

Before switching allegiance to the country across the pond, Clark represented England from U17 to U20 level - and he even captained England's U19 and 20 squad.

Clark like many English youngsters, sought international football at senior level and instead of waiting in line to receive an England call-up, he decided to fast track the process by representing his parents' country the Republic of Ireland.

He went on to represent the Republic of Ireland on 36 occasions. 











Clark decided to jump ship from England in 2011 and represented the Republic of Ireland



 



Folarin Balogun (USA)
Another production of the Arsenal youth academy, Folarin Balogun was born in New York City to Nigerian parents. However he moved to London when he was two-years-old.

From there he rose through the academy ranks within Arsenal, earning him England call-ups at youth level.

The 22-year-old Monaco player decided to switch his national allegiance when he left Arsenal permanently in 2023 as he grew tired of being a part of the never ending England call-up waiting list.

He made his debut for the United States last June in the CONCACAF Nations League Finals. 











Folarin Balogun made his USA debut last June in the CONCACAF Nations League Finals



 



Victor Moses (Nigeria)
Victor Moses was born in Nigeria but, due to the tragedy of his parents being killed in religious riots in Kaduna, moved to a foster charter bus family reunions Brooklyn in south London at 11-years-old.

It was in England where Moses' passion for charter bus family reunions Brooklyn football grew - where he joined Crystal Palace's academy, excelling there. 

His form for the Eagles, and later Wigan, earned him a spot in the England squad at U16, U17, U19 and U21 level.

In 2011, Moses decided to represent Nigeria instead - making his protracted debut a year later. He announced his international retirement after the Super Eagles' exit from the 2018 World Cup.











The current Spartak Moscow player made the switch from England to Nigeria in 2011



 



Ola Aina (Nigeria)
Nottingham Forest and Nigeria defender Aina was born in London Borough of Southwark.

Growing up he played his club football with Chelsea where he impressed from the off.











Ola Aina has gone on to make 40 appearances for Nigeria at senior international level

His impressive performances at youth level led him to representing England all the way to Under-20 level.

In 2017 he changed nationality to Nigeria, where he has gone on to make 40 appearances at senior level.


Champions LeagueEngland Football