Young soccer player shifts sports allegiance from Germany's DFB to South Korea's national under-21 team.
Jens Castrop, the midfielder who recently joined Borussia Mönchengladbach from 1. FC Nürnberg, is yet to receive an invitation from South Korea's national coach Myung-bo Hong to join the national team.
Despite speculation about a potential switch in football associations, Castrop's eligibility to play for South Korea was confirmed by FIFA on August 11, 2025. This eligibility came after his switch from the German football association (DFB), which occurred following the U21 European Championship.
Prior to his move to Borussia Mönchengladbach, Castrop represented the German U21 national team four times. His impressive performances caught the attention of South Korean coach Myung-Bo Hong, who mentioned him as a candidate earlier in the year. However, as of the current news article, Castrop has not been invited to join the South Korean national team.
Heung-Min Son, a star striker for South Korea, recently moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Los Angeles FC, but there is a possibility that Castrop could play alongside Son in the South Korean national team. This potential lineup is hypothetical, as Castrop has not been officially invited by the South Korean coach.
For now, Castrop is focusing on his club career with Borussia Mönchengladbach to strengthen his chances of national team selection. He missed the U21 European Championship due to a knee injury, but his performances for his new club could potentially earn him a call-up to the South Korean national team in the future.
Jens Castrop's focus on his club career with Borussia Mönchengladbach could potentially lead him to play football in European-leagues, like the Laliga, if he receives an invitation from South Korea's national coach Myung-Bo Hong in the future. Despite his impressive performances for the German U21 national team, Castrop has not been invited yet to join the South Korean national team, even with a star striker like Heung-Min Son playing for their league.
