Ajax starlet Lily Yohannes has formally opted to symbolize the United States ladies’s nationwide staff, the 17-year-old introduced in a social media submit on Monday.
Yohannes was eligible for each the USWNT and Netherlands as she has lived within the European nation since she was 10 years previous, however has now chosen to play for Emma Hayes staff.
“I need to lengthen my deepest gratitude to america and Dutch Soccer Federations for his or her unwavering assist and affected person steering as I made my choice concerning my worldwide future,” Yohannes stated within the submit.
“Their dedication and encouragement have been invaluable, and I lengthen my heartfelt due to each Federations.
“After a lot consideration, I’ve determined to decide to symbolize my nation, america. The U.S. is my homeland, my birthplace, and the place my prolonged household resides.
“These sturdy connections have pushed me to honor my roots and proudly decide to U.S. soccer. I’m excited and desperate to proceed placing within the work and earn my place on the U.S. Ladies’s Nationwide Workforce.”
Hayes was requested in regards to the potential to pick the midfielder after saying her most up-to-date roster in October.
“We now have to be aware she’s a extremely younger participant, and has been enjoying her home membership soccer within the Netherlands. So, understandably, she needs to take the time at her age and her stage earlier than she comes to a decision,” Hayes stated on the time.
“However there was communication post-Olympics between Lily and us on the federation. I am all the time optimistic however I do not wish to strain anyone on this scenario … It doesn’t matter what time it takes, it must be proper for Lily. And when that point’s proper, I am positive I will replace if I’ve something to say on that.”
Yohannes already made her debut for the in June 2024, scoring within the SheBelieves Cup recreation in opposition to South Korea inside 10 minutes to change into the third youngest objective scorer in USWNT historical past.
Because the video games in that match are deemed by FIFA to be friendlies, Yohannes would nonetheless have been in a position to symbolize the Dutch for the remainder of her profession.
Born in Springfield, Virginia, Yohannes joined the Ajax youth groups and progressed by means of the ranks in Amsterdam earlier than making her first-team debut in 2023. She has performed 40 occasions for the Dutch membership, scoring seven occasions.
In 2023, she turned the youngest-ever participant to start out a UEFA Ladies’s Champions League recreation as Ajax beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-0.
Data from ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf contributed to this report.
