Noahkai Banks chooses Germany over United States in major blow to Mauricio Pochettino

Noahkai Banks has decided to represent Germany at international level, dealing a significant setback to the United States and head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The German Football Association announced on Friday that it had persuaded the 19-year-old defender to switch his international allegiance. Banks had previously represented the United States at youth level and had also been involved with the senior national team.

Banks is eligible for both countries through his German mother and American father. Born in Hawaii, he moved to Germany with his family as a baby and has lived there ever since.

He joined the Augsburg academy at the age of eight and progressed through the club’s youth system before reaching the first team. The defender is now in his third season with Augsburg in the Bundesliga, where he has made 35 appearances in all competitions and scored one goal.

Banks played for the United States at the 2023 Under-17 World Cup and attended a senior-team training camp in September 2025. His decision is therefore a surprise for Pochettino’s coaching staff, particularly after the former Chelsea and Paris St-Germain manager said last week that he remained in contact with the player and was waiting for him to decide his international future.

The German Football Association said Banks was not the only dual-nationality player to commit to Germany. He has been joined by Tunisian-born forward Loui Ben Farhat, who is also eligible to play for the country.

Antonio Di Salvo, Germany Under-21 manager, said the two players had been discussions for some time before agreeing to their international futures.

“We had been in contact with both of them for a while and focused our efforts on them,” Di Salvo said in an official statement.

“I am pleased that we were able to draw up a future plan for them with Germany and that they agreed to it.”

Banks’ switch represents a major recruiting success for German football as he continues to establish himself as one of the country’s most promising young defenders.

The move comes at an important stage in his development, with the player now building regular senior experience at Augsburg after making his way through the club’s academy. His appearances in the Bundesliga and previous involvement with the United States had left both national teams competing for his long-term commitment.