Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem is expected to declare for the US national team after obtaining American citizenship on Monday.
Zelalem, 17, traveled from London to Washington, D.C. to complete the naturalization process, according to the Washington Post.
The decision paves the way for Zelalem to feature for the US national team program once he receives the proper approvals from FIFA. Zelalem is also eligible to play for Ethiopia and Germany based on his heritage, but he is expected to turn out for the US instead,
If Zelalem confirms his choice, then he immediately transforms into one of the brightest prospects in the American pool.
Zelalem joined the Arsenal youth academy in 2013 after playing youth soccer in the greater Washington, D.C. area and quickly rose through the ranks. He earned a place on the substitutes' bench for the first in August 2013 and made his debut in January off the bench. He subsequently signed a contract extension in March to remain with the club through 2017.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger handed Zelalem his Champions League debut in the 4-1 victory over Galatasaray earlier this month, but the promising midfielder â gifted with dexterity, technical ability and vision -- has not yet featured in the Premier League.
Gedion Zelalem is now a U.S. citizen. At his request we have started the FIFA process which would allow him to be eligible for the #USMNT.
— Sunil Gulati (@sunilgulati) December 30, 2014
Zelalem's progress since making the leap from youth soccer in Maryland to the academy side for one of the world's largest clubs generated intense speculation about his future. He played for German youth national teams in the past, but his decision to obtain an American passport erases many of the American fears surrounding his future.
