Chelsea star speaks on England vs Super Eagles choice: ‘It would be a great honour’

Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo has once again said he is not yet ready to decide whether he will represent England or Nigeria at senior international level, Afrik-Foot reports.

The tall centre-back was born in London to Nigerian parents, which means he is eligible to play for both countries. For now, however, the 28-year-old insists that his attention remains fully on club football.

Adarabioyo previously represented England at youth level. He featured for the Young Lions from the under-16 to under-19 teams, giving England an early advantage in the race for his international future. Despite that early involvement, the defender has not been called up by England since 2015 and is still waiting for his first senior appearance.

Meanwhile, officials from Nigeria have continued to show interest in bringing him into the Super Eagles squad. The former Manchester City FC academy defender has confirmed that discussions with Nigerian football authorities have taken place, but he says he has not yet reached a final decision.

Some observers believe Adarabioyo may be waiting to see if he can still earn a place in England’s squad for the next FIFA World Cup. England have already qualified for the tournament, while Nigeria currently remain outside the qualification picture.

Even so, making the England squad could prove difficult. The team, now managed by Thomas Tuchel, already has several established defenders competing for places. It would likely require injuries or unexpected changes for Adarabioyo to force his way into the squad.

Still, the Chelsea defender may believe that a strong season in the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup could put him back into the England conversation.

Chelsea’s Adarabioyo says playing for Nigeria would be ‘a great honour’

Although he has not committed to Nigeria yet, Adarabioyo has spoken warmly about the country and his connection to it.

In an interview with Tribuna, the defender revealed that he recently spent time in Nigeria and enjoyed learning more about his heritage. That visit, he said, strengthened his emotional connection to the country.

“I played for England’s youth national teams. I was born in London, but I also feel very connected to my Nigerian roots. Last summer I spent my holiday in Nigeria – it’s a wonderful country with a fascinating culture. I followed the Nigerian national team closely at the last Africa Cup of Nations; they have a fantastic team. It would be a great honor to wear the green shirt, but right now my focus is entirely on my goals with Chelsea.”

Adarabioyo’s comment, while it shows admiration for Nigeria, also suggests that club football remains his main priority.

For Nigeria, competition in defence is also growing. Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has recently trusted several younger defenders in the national team setup. Players such as Calvin Bassey, Benjamin Frederick and Igoh Ogbu have all been given opportunities, while Emmanuel Fernandez has also emerged as a promising option for the future.

Because of that competition, Adarabioyo would still need to convince the coaching staff that he deserves a place in the squad if he eventually chooses Nigeria. The Super Eagles are scheduled to play an international friendly against Jordan later this month. Another planned match against Iran was cancelled.