Eberechi Eze: Arsenal and England star once trained with the Super Eagles

In the wake of Eberechi Eze’s incredible hat-trick in his first North London derby for Arsenal, pictures resurfaced on social media from the time he trained with the Nigerian Super Eagles.

Eze is of Igbo Nigerian descent. While he was still a teenager, playing for Queens Park Rangers, he trained with the Super Eagles during a camp held in London in March 2017, following a cancelled friendly with Burkina Faso.

NFF scouts had him on their radar, and the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF pursued him again in 2019. Also, erstwhile Super Eagles boss, Gernot Rohr, reportedly kept regular contact while trying to persuade Eze to switch allegiance. 

However, Eze then accepted England youth call-ups (England U20 in October 2018 and later U21 involvement), and despite Nigeria’s interest, he never made a senior appearance for the Super Eagles. He is now a full England international.

In an interview, he confirmed to the Beautiful Game podcast that Nigeria tried to get him on board, explaining why he did not choose the Super Eagles at the time, despite the England call-up yet to arrive.

"I don't want to make a rush decision, as much as it would be a privilege to play for either," Eze said. "It would be a great honour.

“I spoke to them. But again, I am just enjoying my football right now, and I don't want any added pressure on my mindset.

"I don't want to focus on the wrong things. I want to focus on what has got me to this position and continue doing it and wherever it takes me, it takes me.”

Eze made his England senior debut in June 2023 against Malta and has established himself as a regular since. The 27-year-old has had 16 appearances for the Three Lions, scoring three goals.