Town youngster Jayden Adetiba was named in a UAE U17s training camp in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi but has remained here to play in Thursday's FA Youth Cup tie at Everton.
It's understood the club and the UAE FA came to an agreement that the 17-year-old would stay behind to play in Thursday's fifth-round tie at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Town keeper Josh Bentley, who made his UAE U17s debut last month, was not named in the squad.
The camp got under way yesterday and runs until February 17th with no friendlies scheduled.
Forward Adetiba, who signed his first pro deal at the end of December and turned 17 on New Year’s Day, joined the Blues academy from Arsenal in February last year, starting his scholarship at the beginning of this season.
Born in Dartford, Adetiba moved to Dubai at six months and spent the next eight years living the Emirate.
He won his first U17s caps with the UAE in 2024/25, having previously represented their U16s, and earlier this season played at the U17 World Cup in Qatar.
Having spent a year living in Cape Town, he was spotted by the Gunners on the family’s return to the UK in 2018.
https://x.com/UAEFNT/status/2020769871676760137