Darlington Osuchukwu: Spain Beat Nigeria and England To Land Talented Manchester United Star
- Spain has beaten Nigeria and England to secure Manchester United youth goalkeeper Darlington Osuchukwu
- Osuchukwu impressed scouts during Man United’s U16 tour of Hong Kong, earning him his maiden Spain invitation
- The Manchester United star, who has represented England at U14s, is also eligible to represent Nigeria
Spain appears to have won the race for the international future of Manchester United youth goalkeeper Darlington Osuchukwu.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation has edged out competition from both Nigeria and England for the highly talented goalkeeper.
Source: Twitter
Osuchukwu, the teenage shot-stopper, is regarded as one of the most promising in his age group, has been rewarded with a maiden call-up to Spain’s U17 national team.
This adds to another disappointment for Nigeria after Chelsea stopped their youth team star, Chizaram “Chizzy” Ezenwata, from joining Nigeria’s U20 training camp ahead of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile.
Spain move quickly to secure Osuchukwu
Born in Murcia, Osuchukwu was eligible to represent Spain through birth, Nigeria through his parents, and England through residency, per Transfermarkt.
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While England initially looked to be in pole position, having invited him to U15 and U16 camps, Spain made the decisive move.
Following standout performances during Manchester United’s U16 tour of Hong Kong, where he impressed in penalty shootouts and displayed sharp reflexes, Spain handed him his first international invitation, All Nigeria Soccer reports.
The teenager will join the Spanish U17 camp between August 25 and August 28, part of preparations for the European U17 Championship qualifiers in October.
What it means for Nigeria
Spain’s call-up represents a major blow for both Nigeria and England, who had hoped to secure the young goalkeeper for their future.
For Nigeria, it continues a familiar trend of losing highly-rated dual-eligible players to European nations.
The three-time African champions have lost superstars like Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Fikayo Tomori, Michael Olise, and Karim Adeyemi to top European countries in the past.
If Osuchukwu takes part in Spain’s October qualifiers against Andorra, Latvia, or Denmark, he will become provisionally cap-tied to Spain.
While FIFA regulations allow players under 21 to switch national teams later, doing so requires formal approval for a change of association, making it harder for Nigeria to lure him back.
From Spain to Manchester United
Osuchukwu began his football career in Spain, playing for Gazte Berriak and later Osasuna, where he built a reputation as a fearless goalkeeper with strong command of his area.
His Nigerian family relocated to England three years ago, and he soon joined Manchester United’s academy ranks, where he has continued to shine.
At Man United, Osuchukwu’s performances during youth tournaments and international tours have caught the eye of scouts and national selectors alike.
His latest exploits in Hong Kong not only boosted his profile but also convinced Spain to act swiftly in securing his international future.
For the teenager, the call-up represents a huge step in his development and could be the beginning of a long career in Spanish colours.
Osuchukwu set to choose England
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the English Football Association has taken the lead in securing the international future of Osuchukwu, a talented young goalkeeper from Manchester United.
The 16-year-old has been invited to England’s U16 training camp ahead of the upcoming UEFA Development Tournament, where England will compete against Colombia, France, and Denmark.
Source: Legit.ng
