Southgate’s snub of Tosin Adarabioyo in England’s EURO 2024 squad paves way for Super Eagles switch

Fulham FC defender Tosin Adarabioyo has been omitted from England’s provisional squad for the upcoming EURO 2024 tournament, Soccernet.ng reports.

This latest development opens the door for Adarabioyo to switch allegiance and play for Nigeria, his parents’ home country, making him eligible for the Super Eagles.

His impressive performance for Fulham has attracted interest from top European clubs such as Manchester United, Newcastle United, and AC Milan, who are eyeing him for a free transfer.

Adarabioyo, who is 26, meets FIFA’s eligibility criteria, having not played more than three competitive games for any country before turning 21, thus making him eligible to play for Nigeria.

Adarabioyo Misses England Selection

England head coach Gareth Southgate has officially announced his squad for the upcoming EURO 2024, scheduled from June 14 to July 14, 2024.

 

Southgate included defenders Harry Maguire, John Stones, and Lewis Dunk but left out Adarabioyo.

Adarabioyo has previously played for England’s youth teams across all age categories, and a chance at EURO 2024 would have solidified his switch to play for England, potentially preventing him from playing for Nigeria.

Is Adarabioyo on Nigeria’s Radar?

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been monitoring Adarabioyo with the intention of inviting him to join the Super Eagles.

NFF Technical Director Augustine Eguavoen was invited by the Manchester-born center back to watch his game between Fulham and Crystal Palace. However, Eguavoen saw Palace suffer a 3-0 defeat to Fulham, with Adarabioyo kept on the bench throughout the game.

In a previous conversation with Soccernet.ng, Eguavoen mentioned his role in advising coaches on players with potential, leaving the final decision to the coaches.

Has Adarabioyo Sworn Allegiance?

Reports suggested that Adarabioyo had declared his commitment to playing for the Nigerian Super Eagles, making him eligible for the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea-Bissau.

However, Soccernet.ng confirmed with former Super Eagles boss Jose Peseiro that these claims are inaccurate, as Adarabioyo’s intentions remain unclear.

Switching allegiance requires a written request to FIFA, which adds complexity to the process. Adarabioyo would be a valuable addition to Nigeria’s defense, but all formalities must be properly completed.