Former Chelsea star swaps national teams and vows to fight for England spot despite playing twice for Jamaica
FORMER Chelsea midfielder Omari Hutchinson has confirmed his allegiance to England and will battle for a place in the Three Lions squad.
The 20-year-old earned two full caps with Jamaica before being called up to England’s U21s in August after a breakthrough season with Ipswich.
Several meetings have been held at various intervals over the last 12 months with Jamaica asking him to fully commit to them.
While people close with the England U21s camp have been trying to convince him to return to the Three Lions fold.
According to The Athletic, Hutchinson enjoyed playing for Jamaica with his dad Leon born on the Caribbean island.
But Hutchinson has decided to fully commit to England – despite the vast difference in talent pools and competition for places.
The Ipswich star was forced into a final decision because if he’d earned one more cap for Jamaica he wouldn’t be able to switch allegiance.
A football player becomes cap-tied to a nation after playing more than three matches for that team – or one competitive appearance.
But Hutchinson has played two friendlies with Jamaica against Catalonia in May 2022 and Trinidad and Tobago last year.
He had previously represented England at U17 and U19 level.
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Jamaica boss Steve McClaren, who was appointed in July, was involved in trying to convince Hutchinson to earn more caps there.
Hutchinson decided to opt out of international football last year to focus on securing Ipswich promotion to the Prem.
In March, he told the Athletic: “I got called up for both England and Jamaica, but I said, ‘Look, I want to leave internationals out for this season and focus on Ipswich’.
“There are a lot of games and my body is quite sore as it’s my first season in men’s football.”
Hutchinson has been called up to the England U21 squad for their upcoming European Championship qualifiers.
His fine form on loan with The Tractor Boys last term saw him score 10 Championship goals and provide five assists, as Ipswich finished second to earn automatic promotion.
Hutchinson then permanently joined Ipswich in a club-record deal from Chelsea for an initial fee of £18m plus performance related add-ons in July.
Arsenal pocketed a tidy near £4m windfall after Chelsea sold Hutchinson, after the forward signed for the Gunners aged 12.
He will have to compete with a strong senior England side once he makes the jump from the U21s – who have been given more chances of late.
Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White have been called up under interim boss Lee Carsley – but they’ll have to fight Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice and Cole Palmer for minutes.
Meanwhile, Mason Greenwood has chosen to go the other way by turning his back on England to play for Jamaica pending Fifa approval.