Yunus Musah commits to USMNT

Here’s some incredible news for your Monday morning! In an announcement that probably caught every American fan off guard, Yunus Musah has declared that he will represent the United States in international competition. The announcement came in a video that started out like a hype video for the upcoming matches this month against Jamaica and Northern Ireland, but quickly turned into something that made us all leap for joy.

The 18-year-old Valencia CF midfielder, who was also eligible to represent England, Ghana, and Italy, was born in New York City and spent his youth international career with England. He broke into the Valencia first team this season and caught the eye of Gregg Berhalter, who called him up for friendlies last November against Wales and Panama. He started both matches, becoming one of 13 players to appear for the USMNT before turning 18 years old.

Musah had been very interactive on social media with several players from the USMNT, making fans hopeful that he would choose the United States. However, it seems like his time with the USMNT back in November helped solidify his decision.

“I think it was pretty clear for me to decide to play for the United States,” Musah said in a statement released by U.S. Soccer. “First of all, I think it makes sense to represent the country I was born in. The moment I decided to play for the United States came one day when my heart told me that this was the best place for me. The project that we have now and for the future is so exciting, and it’s a great pleasure to be able to be a part of that. I can’t wait to get started.”

You can’t spell Musah without U-S-A. It’s now officially so!