Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem will go straight into the US national team if FIFA grant him eligibility, according to coach Jurgen Klinsmann
Berlin-born Zelalem has played for Germany at youth level, but was granted US citizenship after living in the country between 2006 and 2013.
He is also eligible to play for Ethiopia through his parents, but Klinsmann is keen to get him on the US national team.
"He is a special case. I think he is already at a level that he can definitely play with the senior team," the German World Cup winner told a small group of reporters.
Zelalem has not yet played a Premier League game for the Gunners, making just one substitute appearance in the Capital One Cup and the Champions League.
However, he is thought of as one of the club's hottest youth prospects, and Klinsmann is keen to fast-track him into the US first team.
"Definitely I would like to see him with me first. I want to see how he interacts with the whole group and what level he is in. For the next dates, I am totally open to have him in the Under-23s," he said.
FIFA rules state that players must live in a country for five years after their 18th birthday before they are eligible.
This is designed to stop players being granted citizenship for entirely football reasons, but the US are hopeful of Zelalem being allowed to play for them due to his move to the country as a schoolboy having nothing to do with football.
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