England manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Ben White, formerly of Leeds United, has opted out of consideration for the national team. Despite his stellar performances at Arsenal resulting in a new contract, the 26-year-old will not be included in the upcoming Three Lions squad.
White, who was previously part of England’s 2022 World Cup squad but had to leave due to personal reasons, has not featured on the international stage since. Southgate, announcing the squad for the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, addressed White’s absence, expressing disappointment at the player’s decision.
In a statement, Southgate revealed, “We received a message from Arsenal’s sporting director Edu last week indicating that Ben has chosen not to be part of the England squads for now. While I believe he deserves to be considered based on his form, Ben has indicated his preference not to be involved at this time.”
Despite White’s reluctance, Southgate remains fond of the player, acknowledging his talent and past contributions to the national team during major tournaments. Southgate shared his conversation with White post-Qatar and expressed willingness to keep the door open for his return, citing his abilities to positively impact England’s performances.
White, who had a successful loan spell at Leeds United during the 2019/20 season, played a significant role in helping the team secure the Championship title before returning to Brighton & Hove Albion and subsequently joining Arsenal.
