Mason Greenwood has begun the process of gathering personal documents so he can gain Jamaican citizenship and play for the country at international level.
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has been looking to recruit Greenwood for several months and now the first steps are being taken to make that a reality under new manager Steve McClaren.
Registration paperwork has been handed over by the Football Association (FA) to the JFF, as per a request, so that a formal request for the switch can be put to FIFA.
Greenwood made one appearance for England against Iceland in September 2020, but can change representation because he was under 21.
But Greenwood also needs to be granted a Jamaican passport, which requires the birth certificate of the relative who qualifies him. The relevant checks can be lengthy — in the case of Michail Antonio, who made his Jamaica debut in September 2021, it took a year — although the government can expedite the process.
Greenwood, who was born in Bradford, is eligible through his paternal grandparents.
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McClaren, who was appointed manager at the start of August, is supportive of bringing Greenwood into his squad, and is expected to have face-to-face talks with the player in France.
At his unveiling, McClaren said on Greenwood: “I met Mason in the Manchester United training ground about three weeks ago, before the announcement was made, so I had to be very careful what to say to him. But we had a little conversation.
He added: “What I want to do, like with everybody, is to go meet them and find out the reality of the situation and whether they actually want to come all the way here to play for Jamaica. They are very good players.”
McClaren announces his first Jamaica squad on August 30 for September’s Nations League matches against Cuba and Honduras, raising the prospect of a call-up for Greenwood should his passport be confirmed in time. Although there is no clarity on how long the process might take.
Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of rape and assault and subsequently charged in October of that year.
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service discontinued its case against him in February 2023. Greenwood denied all of the allegations against him.
(CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
