Exiled Stoke City midfielder set to be handed World Cup chance after ‘agreement reached’
Lewis Baker was a regular goal scorer for England at youth level but is now set to switch his allegiance
Lewis Baker has reportedly agreed to switch his international allegiance for a shot at playing at a World Cup.
The 29-year-old Stoke City midfielder, who is currently on loan at Blackburn Rovers, was an England regular from under-17s to under-21s as he came through the ranks at Chelsea. He scored regularly too, including eight goals in 17 appearances for the 21s, winning the Toulon Tournament golden boot in 2016.
But he has now been headhunted by Steve McClaren to play for Jamaica as they try to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America. TBR Football claims he has answered in the affirmative and “paperwork is being finalised” for him to make the change.
McClaren is also said to be targeting other England-raised players, with Mason Holgate the latest to be included in his squad. Mason Greenwood, Reiss Nelson and Isaac Hayden are believed to be on their short list.
Baker grew up in Luton, the son of world champion powerlifter Audley Baker. He was spotted by Chelsea scouts when he was nine – and impressed with an ability to manage 600 keepie-uppies. He was earmarked for a key role at Stamford Bridge by Jose Mourinho but ended up on a series of loans to clubs including Vitesse Arnhem, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Reading, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Trabzonspor.
He joined Stoke on a free transfer in early 2022 and was appointed captain by Michael O’Neill that summer before falling down the pecking order under Alex Neil. He is out of contract next summer and has made two starts and two sub appearances so far for Blackburn as he puts himself in the shop window for whatever lies ahead.
