CONCACAF GOLD CUP
Jamaica call up five Premier League players for Gold Cup squad to face USMNT
The Reggae Boyz have added Everton forward Demarai Gray to their roster for the upcoming Concacaf tournament.
Jamaica could pose a real threat to tournament favourites USMNT in their Concacaf Gold Cup opener this weekend. The Reggae Boyz face the US side in the first group stage match on Saturday, 24 June.
Heimir Hallgrímsson’s Jamaica team are currently ranked 63rd in the world but have been bolstered by the recent addition of Demarai Gray, who has switched his international allegiance from England.
Everton’s Birmingham-born forward played for England through the age groups and made 26 appearances for the Under-21 team. However, now aged 26, he has decided to switch after being granted a Jamaican passport due to his family heritage.
He is one of five Premier League players in the Jamaica team for the Gold Cup:
Demarai Gray, Everton
Ethan Pinnock, Brentford
Bobby Reid, Fulham
Michail Antonio, West Ham United
Leon Bailey, Aston Villa
Gray wanted to get closer to “family roots”
Demarai Gray is the latest product of a concerted effort on the part of the Jamaican Football Federation to identify players with Jamaican heritage to join the national team. Gray qualifies for Jamaica through his grandparents, who lived on the Caribbean island.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Gray said that he had been considering the switch for some time.
“I think it’s the right time,” the 26-year-old said. “International football is something I’ve missed.”
“Jamaica has always been on my mind. Coming through as a youngster, I represented England from an early age up to the Under-21s, but not getting a senior cap meant Jamaica was an opportunity for me.”
Gray broke through at hometown club Birmingham City, before making a move to Premier League side Leicester City in 2016. He played more than 150 times for Leicester but took the brave decision to move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 when first team chances at the King Power were limited.
Once again, Gray has found himself in search of new horizons and a new perspective on his career.
“At the stage I’m at now, wanting a fresh challenge and with my family roots and culture, I think it’s perfect timing.”