ARIYIBI HAS TRI-NATIONS AMBITIONS!

THIS time last season Gboly Ariyibi couldn’t find a club – but now Chesterfield’s USA U20 international says he’d be hard-pressed to pick the country to play for!

Born in the USA to Nigerian parents, Ariyibi moved to England aged just two months and so is eligible for USA, Nigeria and England.

The winger spent his teenage years with Southampton alongside academy stars Luke Shaw and Callum Chambers.

While those two defensive stars cost a combined £46m this summer, Ariyibi pitched up at Leeds last December after months in the footballing wilderness.

Then a move to Chesterfield in August led to his call-up to the USA U20s earlier this month.

With such an assorted background the 19-year-old says he’s yet to make his mind up if more international honours follow.

“I could actually play for USA, Nigeria or England,” he said.“I still couldn’t make my mind up who to play for if all three asked me right now!

“My aunties live in Virginia and my mum, Olabisi, still goes to visit. I moved to London when I was two months old so I don’t remember much of America! Then, when I was two, I moved to Oxford. My parents are Nigerian, so there’s a big allegiance there.”

Ariyibi barely had time to settle with the Spireites before he jetted off to Argentina to meet up with the USA age group side.

Straight after Chesterfield’s 4-1 Capital One Cup second-round victory over Scunthorpe on September 13, the former Tranmere loanee dashed to the airport.

“Things at Chesterfield have been good so far – they play my style of football,” added Ariyibi, who came off the bench against Argentina in a 1-1 draw.

“The Leeds move just happened. It took me six months to find a club, after being released by Southampton as a secondyear scholar. I was going to give it until June before heading to America.”