Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo has publicly denied reports suggesting he turned down a call-up to play for the Nigerian national team, clarifying that he has never rejected the opportunity to represent the Super Eagles.
Speaking in a post-match interview after Chelsea’s emphatic 4-1 win over Real Betis in the UEFA Europa Conference League final, the 27-year-old addressed widespread speculation surrounding his international future.
“Both of those pieces of news are pretty false. I’ve never turned down Nigeria. And I’ve never had any conversations with them to say that I’ll be going to Nigeria,” Adarabioyo stated.
The London-born centre-back, who joined Chelsea from Fulham at the start of the season, has previously represented England at various youth levels but remains eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents.
He explained that while there was some contact with Nigerian football authorities in the past, he chose to focus on his club career at the time.
“At the point of last season where there was a little bit of conversation, I told them I just want to focus on club football. I was in my last year at Fulham, and I just wanted to have a solid run at Fulham. Now I’m at Chelsea. My first year, which I wanted to concentrate on again,” he said.
Looking ahead, Adarabioyo hinted that a final decision on his international allegiance could be made in the near future.
“And I think now is going to be the time that I need to make a decision,” he concluded.
With strong performances in his debut season at Stamford Bridge and growing attention from fans and analysts alike, all eyes will be on Adarabioyo as he weighs the next chapter of his career—whether in England’s Three Lions or Nigeria’s Super Eagles colors.
