Matty Cash has officially been granted Polish citizenship and could play his first game for the national team next month.
Despite growing up in England, Cash qualifies for Polish citizenship through his mother and grandfather.
The 24-year-old Aston Villa right back first spoke to the Polish FA three years ago about the possibility of switching.
The change in international allegiance comes following talks between the president of the Polish Football Association, Cezary Kulesza, and the country’s President Andrzej Duda.
Paulo Sousa’s team have a World Cup qualifying double-header against Andorra and Hungary in November and those games could be Cash’s first outings for the national side.
After being granted citizenship and meeting Poland’s manager on Tuesday, Cash wrote on his Instagram page: “This is a very important and proud day for me and my family.
“My application to get Polish citizenship has been approved by Polish authorities.
“I would like to thank Mr president, my family and other people who helped me with that. Now it’s time for a new challenge, I will give my all for this Country.”
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Sousa added there was a “lot of enthusiasm” about playing for Poland in Cash’s family and said: “Playing in the national team is not only a great responsibility but also something additional, which is very difficult to describe in words.”
Cash, who will play with Leeds United’s Mateusz Klich, lodged the necessary paperwork in September to acquire a Polish passport and is set to make his mark in Sousa’s team with less than 13 months until the next World Cup in Qatar.
