Ademola Lookman, the Everton youngster born in England to Nigerian parents, has chosen to play for England as he snubs his home country.
He made the pledge to play for England after holding face-to-face talks with Under-21 head coach Aidy Boothroyd.
Aidy Boothroyd confirmed on Tuesday evening that Lookman who was part of the Under-20 squad that won the World Cup in 2017 has pledged his future to his birth country.
“Every time I see him I have a little joke with him about it,’ said Boothroyd. ‘I say: “Why would you want to leave us?”
‘But he’s very focused on England – that’s what he tells me. He says he wants to play international football for England.’
Speaking Lookman’s difficult year after moving to Germany to join RB Leipzig on loan before returning back Everton, Aidy said:
‘He’s had a tough time of it, but he’s been better recently,’ said Boothroyd. ‘He got himself into a state over summer when he didn’t know where he would be playing or if he would be moving or not. Now he has just got his head around the fact that wherever it is he is playing, he has to play well.
‘He has told himself “I just have to focus on me” which is right. When you look at Dominic Solanke, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Tammy Abraham, Reiss Nelson, Ryan Sessegnon and Ademola, we have some real attacking talent.’