Carney Chukwuemeka receives first Austria call-up after switching allegiance from England

Vienna — Austria coach Ralf Rangnick has handed Carney Chukwuemeka his maiden senior international call-up after FIFA ratified the midfielder’s switch from England, ending a two-year recruitment campaign that began before Euro 2024.

Born in Eisenstadt to Nigerian parents, the 22-year-old Borussia Dortmund player had represented England at every youth level and also held eligibility for Nigeria. Rangnick first approached Chukwuemeka in the spring of 2024 after Xaver Schlager’s serious injury left Austria short of dynamic midfield options, but the then-Chelsea prospect declined to commit.

Discussions resumed late last year and, following a permanent move to Dortmund last summer, Chukwuemeka informed Rangnick he was ready to pledge his future to the country of his birth. The paperwork was completed last week, clearing the way for his inclusion in Austria’s squad for friendlies against Ghana on 27 March and South Korea three days later.

“For us this is the culmination of a very patient pursuit,” Rangnick told journalists at the team’s training base. “Carney gives us a different profile—direct, powerful, able to carry the ball and break lines. We don’t have many players with that combination.”

Chukwuemeka’s club season has been stop-start: seven starts and fewer than 1,000 competitive minutes for Dortmund after an initial loan was converted into a permanent deal. Yet Rangnick believes the 1.87 m midfielder can become a disruptive attacking weapon for a side already assured of a place at the upcoming World Cup, where Austria will meet Jordan, Algeria and Argentina in Group J.

The youngster is not the only fresh face in Rangnick’s 26-man group. Paul Wanner, 20, has also declared for Austria after a protracted tug-of-war between the ÖFB and the German FA. The former Bayern Munich prodigy, capped by Germany from U-17 upward, joined PSV Eindhoven last summer and has been courted by Rangnick since October 2022.

“This decision was probably the hardest of my career,” Wanner told Sky Sports after opting for Austria. “Two hearts beat in my chest, but the constant conversations with Ralf and his staff convinced me the project here is special.”

Both newcomers could debut against Ghana in Vienna, yet World Cup berths remain far from guaranteed. Austria’s midfield is stacked with experienced operators including Marcel Sabitzer, Christoph Baumgartner, Romano Schmid and the rehabilitated Schlager. Rangnick, however, insists the door is open: “Perform in these friendlies and the summer tournament is within reach.”

For Chukwuemeka, the invitation caps a personal journey that began on Austrian soil and now returns there wearing red and white. “It feels like coming home,” he said upon receiving the news. “I can’t wait to represent my country on the biggest stage.”

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