Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu is a Wales international but he could have played for England instead.
After enduring a 2024-25 season disrupted by injury and having to play out of position, Ethan Ampadu is enjoying a great start on his return to the Premier League.
The Leeds United captain made a single appearance in the top flight for Chelsea, but spent the majority of time at the London club out on loan.
After making his debut for hometown club Exeter as a 15-year-old, Ampadu was snapped up by Chelsea in 2017 but shepherded out on loan to RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Venezia and Spezia over the next five years.
Leeds finally gave Ampadu a permanent home when they signed him for £7m in 2023, with him quickly impressing and becoming Daniel Farke’s captain.
Though at points it appeared he would never reach his potential when stuck in the Chelsea meat grinder, he always remained highly-rated by the Wales set-up and was an international throughout.
Here’s why the Exeter-born midfielder opted to play for Wales instead of England.
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty ImagesWhy Ethan Ampadu chose to play for Wales
England take on Wales in a (not so) friendly at Wembley on Thursday night and, in another universe, Ampadu could be lining up with Three Lions on his chest rather than a dragon.
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As he was born in Exeter, Ampadu could have represented England but played for Wales at youth level instead.
Not for long, though, as Ampadu was called up to the senior squad for the first time in 2017 when he was aged just 16. Later that year, having turned 17, he earned his first cap in a friendly against France.
However, even then, he could have changed his allegiance to England as he hadn’t played a competitive game for Wales.
But that was never going to happen.
Speaking before he played his first competitive game, Ampadu told S4C’s ‘Mwy o Sgorio’: “I will be hanging around with Wales.
“I first got invited to an under-16 camp with Wales, I went along with that and I just enjoyed it from the very first moment.
“I thought Wales would be the one. The togetherness, throughout all the age groups is a good atmosphere.”
Ampadu’s international career was set in stone in September 2018 when he started in the 4-1 Nations League win over Republic of Ireland, picking up an assist in the process.
After the match, he said: “There was talk, but for me I’ve always been thinking about Wales anyway.
“As you could see tonight I really enjoy playing for Wales, the atmosphere, and everything around it.
“I’ve always felt part of the set-up and the senior players and staff have helped that.”
Who else could Ethan Ampadu play for internationally?
It wasn’t only England who missed out on the combative and versatile midfielder, as Ampadu was also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland and Ghana.
However, he remained with Wales, who he qualifies to play for through his Welsh mother.
The Red Dragons have certainly benefited from his decision, with Ampadu already earning 56 caps for his country despite only being 25 years old.
It makes him Wales’ 33rd most-capped player ever but there’s some way to go before he reaches Gareth Bale’s leading tally of 111.
However, should he remain at Elland Road, he could feasibly become Leeds’ most-capped player ever, a record currently held by Lucas Radebe with his 69 South Africa caps.
Ampadu is yet to score for his nation and his assist on his debut is his only one to date, though he does have a red card after becoming the youngest player ever to be sent off at the Euros in 2020.