The Austrian Football Association has been attempting for some time to persuade midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka to change his international allegiance and represent Austria instead of England. They are leveraging his connection to the country, as he was born in the Austrian city of Eisenstadt to Nigerian parents before moving to England and obtaining British citizenship.

The player has previously represented England’s U19 and U20 teams and has played for Chelsea and Aston Villa before moving to Borussia Dortmund.

According to press reports, Chukwuemeka has already decided to represent the Austrian national team at the international level, a move that could provide the “Austrian Mannschaft” with a strong addition in midfield as major tournaments approach, most notably the 2026 World Cup.

The Dortmund player is expected to be called up for the upcoming friendly matches against Ghana on March 27 and against South Korea on the 31st of the same month. Both matches will be held in the capital, Vienna, providing the player with a first opportunity to prove himself in the jersey of his new national team.

Chukwuemeka’s decision is seen as a significant gain for Austria, which seeks to strengthen its lineup with young, high-quality players, while the English national team loses a player who was a potential future option for their midfield.