Leicester City winger Ademola Lookman has been cleared by world football governing body FIFA to play for Nigeria after completing a switch of allegiance process from England.
He represented England at several youth levels and has always been viewed as a future international for them at senior level and present England coach Gareth Southgate is a huge fan.
On loan from RB Leipzig of Germany to Leicester City, Lookman who has five goals this season worked with Southgate at U20 level with the coach the first to officially announce the intention of Nigeria to convince him to switch allegiance.
Southgate speaking back then said Lookman is among the players he hope to see in the senior colours of England after turning down three approaches from Nigeria.
“I know every country is quite aggressive in their recruiting and I know they have always had an interest in him, but he is playing and has been in our squads, the 20s, 21s,” Southgate said in 2018.
“So in terms of encouragement through game time, we are doing as much as we possibly can. Lookman knows he has a future with us”.
Lookman’s latest decision will no doubt infuriate the England boss particularly as he is close to returning to the form that made him a hit as a teenager back then at Everton.