Who is Luca Koleosho? USMNT-eligible Burnley winger from Connecticut making waves in English Championship

In international soccer, attempting to recruit dual nationals is an always moving target but it's one that managers have to keep up with in order to ensure that the best pool of talent is available for their teams. There's a fine balance between developing talent and recruiting players but in some cases, both can be accomplished. Burnley winger Luca Koleosho, born in Norwalk, Conn., could be the next dual national to watch.

Born in the United States in 2004, the 19-year-old is eligible to represent the United States, Canada, Italy, or Nigeria at the international level. Currently a youth international for Italy, multiple nations are interested in Koleosho due to the fact that he projects to be a starting winger in a top-five league, something that could improve any team around the world.

Here is what to know about him:

Who is Luca Koleosho?

The Connecticut native began his youth career with Trumbull United in his home state before playing for the Manhattan Kickers. Then he went to Spain and joined club Reus before joining Espanyol. 

After kicking off his pro career with Espanyol in Spain, Koleosho made the move to England joining Burnley in the summer of 2023 before debuting for the Clarets during their return to the Premier League. He would score his first Premier League goal on Dec. 2, 2023, against Sheffield United but then his season was cut short after suffering a knee injury later that month. Burnley got relegated and while his young attacking partner Wilson Odobert has made a move to Tottenham, Koleosho is still there to help lead the squad back from the Championship to the Premier League under Scott Parker.

He scored his first goal for Burnley since in injury on on Aug. 27 in a route of Cardiff City while putting in a strong all-around performance. Good with the ball at his feet, the young winger needs more minutes to gain the keys to unlock tougher defenses but by becoming a starter for the Clarets at such a young age, he'll have every opportunity to gain that experience. It's no surprise that while being so young he's such a highly sought-after player on the international stage, but given his trajectory, Koleosho is someone who could contribute to a nation during the 2026 World Cup when he'll be 21.

Already between the United States youth and Italy, Koleosho has made 13 international appearances. When called up by Canada in 2022, Koleosho didn't close the door to the United States, according to ESPN, but there is a three-way pull going on for his services.

Fit with the USMNT

Winger is a position where the United States has depth but it is in limbo. Gio Reyna has uncertain playing time with Borussia Dortmund and Tim Weah has been in and out of the Juventus lineup, and he's now injured. Koleosho is able to play both sides or centrally in support of a striker so depending on the setup, he has the versatility to thrive wherever he may be needed. 

Depth is also a concern for the USMNT which may be the biggest boon that a talented young attacker could bring. The starting XI for the USMNT is comPetitive against most nations but there aren't many Game-changers in the attack that can be introduced from the bench or rotated into the XI in knockout tournaments. It was an issue in the 2022 World Cup when the USMNT were run off the pitch by the Netherlands and has continued to rear its head.

The younger players in the USMNT pool will progress in the future but it doesn't hurt to add another talented player to the ranks as long as Koleosho is willing to fight for a spot in the starting XI. At times, players want their minutes to be guaranteed when making the move from one international team to another but that can upset the balance of a squad, so it's something that the USMNT should avoid if it comes to that.

Projections

It's tough to tell where Koleosho will eventually land but he's a player who will make the 2026 World Cup with someone. Even if he sticks with Italy, given his level of talent, Koleosho will have a chance to make the squad but that path is clearer with the United States or Canada. Given that Jesse Marsch has already spoken about how he hopes that Canada's success at Copa America turned the heads of more dual nationals, it will be a matter of timing.

While Canada are already on the hunt for dual nationals, the USMNT are in the process of bringing on a new head coach, which is expected to be Mauricio Pochettino. As resources are diverted, that's a chance for Canada to see if they can get Koleosho on board but the earliest this will likely come to a conclusion is Concacaf Nations League which the quarterfinals begin in November of this year.