Arsenal youngster Charles Sagoe Jr. declines Liberia call-up to focus on club future

Arsenal winger Charles Sagoe Jr has received his first international call-up from Liberia but has chosen to delay a decision on his international future.

The 21-year-old was invited by the Liberia Football Association to join their squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Namibia and Equatorial Guinea this month but declined, opting to take more time before committing.

Sagoe Jr qualifies to represent Liberia through his mother and Ghana through his father, while he remains eligible for England, where he was born and raised. His decision, therefore, carries significant weight, with each country monitoring his development closely.

Sources close to the player say he appreciated Liberia’s approach but felt it was too early to make such a defining choice. The young winger is said to want clarity over his club future and playing opportunities before deciding at the international level.

Ghana are also tracking his progress and could make their own move in the near future as they continue to identify dual-national players eligible for selection.

Sagoe Jr’s international attention follows an impressive start to the season with Arsenal’s Under-21 side. He has scored three goals and provided three assists in his opening seven Premier League 2 matches, form that earned him a nomination for the division’s Player of the Month award for August.

The winger, who joined Arsenal’s academy at under-12 level, made his senior debut for the club in September 2023 during the EFL Cup win over Brentford. His technical quality and direct play from wide areas have seen him remain a key figure in the U21 set-up this season.

There were expectations that he could leave the Emirates Stadium during the summer transfer window, either on loan or permanently, but no deal materialised. He has since been reintegrated into the academy squad, with his situation set to be reviewed again in January.

Sagoe Jr continues to train regularly with the senior team under Mikel Arteta and remains one of the more highly regarded talents emerging from Arsenal’s Hale End system.

For now, the winger’s focus remains on maintaining his form at club level while keeping his international options open. Both Liberia and Ghana are expected to revisit their interest in the months ahead as Sagoe Jr weighs up the path that best suits his ambitions.

The post Arsenal youngster Charles Sagoe Jr. declines Liberia call-up to focus on club future first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.