International Switch: Leicester City Aluko Turns to England After Nigeria U20 Camp Experience

International Switch: Leicester City Aluko Turns to England After Nigeria U20 Camp Experience

By BSN Sports 

Olabade Aluko, the 19-year-old defender with Leicester City, has switched his international allegiance from Nigeria to England following a difficult experience with Nigeria’s U20 setup ahead of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Aluko had travelled to Abuja in 2025 to join Nigeria’s U20 training camp under head coach Aliyu Zubairu, hoping to secure a place in the squad for the tournament. However, he was ultimately left out of the final selection — a decision that reportedly came as a surprise to both the player and his representatives.

Sources close to the defender indicated that concerns were raised about his readiness to match the team’s intensity and his lack of a Nigerian passport at the time of the camp. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his omission, those close to Aluko insist that no financial inducement was requested at any stage of the process.

“The body language was off from the start,” a source told OwnGoalNigeria.com. “It went from not having a Nigerian passport to questions about coping with the team’s intensity. But I must state clearly that no one asked us for money.”

Two months after departing the Nigeria camp, Aluko made his debut for England at U20 level, formally beginning his international career with the English youth team. The move coincided with steady progress at club level. This season, he has made seven first-team appearances for Leicester City, including five outings in the English Championship, underlining his growing reputation.

Aluko later acknowledged that the timing of his decision felt appropriate, particularly following the departure of Zubairu from his role with the Nigerian youth side.

His switch marks a significant moment in the young defender’s career, reflecting both the competitive nature of international selection and the increasingly global pathways available to dual-eligible players.