Germany U-18s call in USMNT target, Arsenal prospect Gedion Zelalem

Germany's U-18 national team has called up USMNT target and Arsenal prospect Gedion Zelalem.

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Mar 17, 2015

Gedion Zelalem may very well wind up playing for the U.S. men's national team, but Germany isn't going down without a fight for the 18-year-old Arsenal midfielder's services.

Zelalem, the German-born USMNT target, was called in by Germany's under-18 men's national team on Tuesday for a pair of games against France later this month. Zelalem, who just obtained U.S. citizenship before turning 18, is not yet eligible to play for the U.S. as he awaits FIFA clearance over a rule that prevents naturalized citizens from automatically being cleared to play for their new nations. U.S. Soccer has filed for an exemption and is expecting FIFA to comply.

"We're going through the FIFA process and hope to have Gedion eligible by March or April," U.S. Soccer president and FIFA Executive Committee member Sunil Gulati told ESPNFC in January. "We don't expect any issues."

Zelalem, who could decline the Germany call-up–a year ago he declined a call-up to Germany's U-17 squad–has drawn high praise from U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann, who told reporters last week that he thinks Zelalem is ready to contribute for the U.S. senior team as soon as he is eligible to don the red, white and blue.

Zelalem played 89 minutes on Monday for Arsenal's U-21 team and is not on the traveling roster for the club's UEFA Champions League round-of-16 second leg in Monaco on Tuesday. The Gunners are in a 3-1 hole after dropping the first leg to the Ligue 1 side at the Emirates.

GALLERY: Notable U.S. Soccer dual-nationals

Notable dual-nationals in U.S. soccer history

Joe Gaetjens - Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Joe Gaetijens, who scored the illustrious goal that lifted the United States to a 1-0 victory over England in the 1950 World Cup, was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. After returning home a hero, Gaetjens was tragically killed.

John Brooks - Berlin, Germany

Brooks, who scored the game winner in the United States’ 2014 World Cup opener against Ghana, grew up in Berlin, Germany. Although he has never lived in the United States, Brooks made the decision as a youth international to use his dual citizenship to join the USMNT.

Jermaine Jones - Frankfurt, Germany

Jones, a central midfielder known for his aggressive play, grew up in a dangerous neighborhood in Frankfurt, Germany. He debuted for the USMNT in 2010 under Bob Bradley.

Mikkel Diskerud - Oslo, Norway

Nicknamed “Mix” by his mother when he was just a young boy, Mikkel Diskerud has been a part of the USMNT since 2010. He was born in Oslo, Norway, in 1990.

Aron Johannsson - Mobile, Alabama – moved to Reykjavik, Iceland at age of 3

Aron Johannson, born in Mobile, Ala., moved to Reykjavik, Iceland, when he was 3. He has been a member of the USMNT since 2013, and has scored two goals in nine appearances.

Fabian Johnson - Munich, Germany

Fabian Johnson, who hails from Munich, Germany, made his debut for the USMNT against France in November 2011. He is a defender/midfielder on the USMNT.

Timothy Chandler - Frankfurt. Germany

Timmy Chandler, the son of a German mother and an American father, was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1990. He is a defender who has won 13 caps for the USMNT.

Julian Green - Tampa, Florida (born) – lived in Germany since he was 2

Julian Green, born in Tampa, Fla., to an American father and a German mother, moved to Germany at the age of 2 and has lived there ever since. At 18, Green decided to represent the United States and scored a goal in the 2014 World Cup.

Jeff Agoos - Geneva, Switzerland

Jeff Agoos, who was born in Geneva, Switzerland, won over 130 caps for the USMNT in his long career. He played in the 1998 World Cup in France, and the 2002 World Cup in South Korea.

David Regis - La Trinite, Martinique

Known for his speed as a defender, Regis was a starter for the USMNT in the 1998 World Cup. He was born in La Trinite, Martinique, and became a U.S. citizen just a few weeks before the 1998 World Cup began.

Earnie Stewart - Veghel, Netherlands

Earnie Stewart, born in Veghel, Netherlands, in 1969, was a member of the USMNT from 1990 to 2005. He is perhaps most remembered for his goal against Columbia in the 1994 World Cup, which helped the United States advance to the second round.

Fernando Clavijo - Maldonado, Uruguay

Fernando Clavijo moved from his hometown in Uruguay to the United States in 1979. He played in the 1994 World Cup and won 61 caps over his career.

Preki Radosavljevic - Belgrade, Serbia

Appearing in 28 games for the USMNT, Preki competed in the 1998 World Cup in France. He was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1963, and became a U.S. citizen in October 1996.

Roy Wegerle - Pretoria, South Africa

Roy Wegerle, who hails from Pretoria, South Africa, debuted for the USMNT against Iceland. He competed in both the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

Tab Ramos - Montevideo, Uruguay

Plagued by injuries throughout his career, Ramos did not get the chance to compete for the USMNT as much as he would have liked. He is currently an assistant under head coach Jurgen Klinsmann for the USMNT at the 2014 World Cup.

Thomas Dooley - – Bechhofen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Thomas Dooley, a defender from the USMNT from 1992 to 1999, was born in Bechhofen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. He recorded 81 caps and seven goals in his impressive eight-year United States career.