Jens Castrop switches allegiance from Germany to South Korea | OneFootball

Jens Castrop (옌스 카스트로프) has officially changed his football allegiance from Germany to South Korea, making him ineligible to play for the German national team in all future competitions. FIFA officially confirmed the move in their Change of Association Platform on Monday evening (CET).

Castrop was born in Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, to a German father and a Korean mother. The 22-year-old midfielder, who recently moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach from 1. FC Nürnberg on a four-year contract, played for Germany at every youth international level, from the U16 to U21 national teams.

Korean media started reporting Castrop's interest in the South Korean national team back in January, when his personal coach confirmed that Castrop wanted to represent the Taegeuk Warriors. Around the same time, the Korean Football Association and national team management, most notably Hong Myung-bo, were reported to have contacted Castrop about his want to represent South Korea.

His mother, Su Yeon-ahn, spoke to Korean media back in March and stated regarding Castrop: “My son's heart is in Korea. It is Korean, no matter what.” She added, “He does not spare himself; he has a strong sense of discipline, he restrains himself from doing things. When he has free time, he walks his dog or goes fishing instead of going to parties. He focuses on football.”

Men who hold dual citizenship to South Korea may also be required to complete mandatory military service for 18 to 21 months, meaning that Castrop may need to complete this duty, while also likely playing in K League 1 for military side Gimcheon Sangmu FC. Su said about this, “He [Castrop] thinks about military service as a secondary issue - for him, football comes before everything.”

In twenty-five matches in the 2024/25 2. Bundesliga season, Castrop finished with three goals and three assists. After having his season cut short due to a torn lateral knee ligament against SC Paderborn in mid-April, Castrop has recovered and is preparing for the season ahead with Gladbach; he recently played three preseason friendlies, starting against his former club Nürnberg and coming off the bench for the matches against Valencia CF and Brentford FC.