Samuel Gidi: Accra Born Footballer Switches to Slovakia, Gets National Team Call-Up
- Ghana has parted ways with another promising talent, Samuel Gidi, who has opted to switch allegiance to Slovakia
- The 21-year-old, born in Accra, has finalised the necessary paperwork and is now eligible to feature for the European nation
- His decision mirrors that of ex-Tema Youth midfielder Moses Odjer, who secured Italian citizenship earlier this year
Samuel Gidi has taken a new step in his football journey after earning a call-up to the Slovakia Under-21 national team.
The Accra-born midfielder recently completed a nationality switch that now makes him eligible to represent the European nation.
Source: Getty Images
Ghanaian-born footballer Samuel Gidi gets Slovakian citizenship
The 21-year-old began the process earlier this year, applying for a Slovakian passport in April. By last month, the document was ready, officially confirming his switch from Ghana.
Despite the change in nationality, Gidi’s football story remains tied to his homeland.
He first honed his skills at MSK Zilina Africa, an academy based in Accra. His development there opened the door for a move to Europe in 2022, where he joined MSK Zilina in Slovakia’s top division.
At Zilina, Gidi quickly established himself as a dependable midfielder.
According to Transfermarkt, he played 106 matches for the club, contributing seven goals and eight assists.
His steady rise attracted attention abroad, and this summer, Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati secured his services in a €1.7 million transfer.
Watch the video about his impact below:
The move to the United States was seen as the next big chapter of his career, although he has yet to make his debut for the Ohio-based club.
Samuel Gidi gets national team call-up ahead of UEFA U-21 Qualifiers
Now, his focus shifts to international duty.
Gidi is expected to feature when Slovakia face Andorra and Moldova on September 5 and 9 in the UEFA Euro U-21 qualifiers for 2027.
Head coach Jaroslav Kentos had been monitoring him for months, even before the paperwork was finalised.
Source: Getty Images
The coach praised his qualities and hinted at a possible role in the 2025 UEFA Euro U-21 tournament.
However, the delay in completing his switch kept him out of the squad for the competition, which was won by England in June.
"We have been following him for a long time, since the time when there was a possibility that he would receive Slovak citizenship, we observe him in detail and we know his performance. I am glad that everything came to a successful end and he will be part of our team," he said as quoted by Futbalsfz.
Gidi now joins a growing list of footballers who have naturalised to play for Slovakia.
He follows in the footsteps of Togolese-born Karim Guede and Vernon De Marco, adding another layer to the nation’s multicultural football identity.
The 21-year-old is not the first to trade Ghana for Europe, with his switch echoing that of former Tema Youth midfielder Moses Odjer, who obtained Italian citizenship in January 2025.
Perhaps the most notable Ghanaian-born player to represent a European nation, however, remains Marcel Desailly, the former Chelsea, AC Milan, and Olympique Marseille star.
German-born footballer opts to represent Ghana
In an earlier report by YEN.com.gh, the situation flipped, with Ghana welcoming German-born defender Derrick Arthur Kohn into the squad for next month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The versatile youngster had previously represented Germany at the youth level before pledging his international future to the Black Stars.
Source: YEN.com.gh
