Daniel Jebbison commits to Canada in latest significant dual-national coup

After years of trying to convince Daniel Jebbison to join Canada’s men’s national team, Canada Soccer has landed one of the most sought-after dual-nationals in the program’s history. Jebbison, a 21-year-old center forward and former England youth international, has agreed to represent Canada, multiple sources with understanding of the decision told The Athletic. Those sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships. Jebbison was born in Oakville, Ontario, but is eligible to represent England and Jamaica through his parents.

An official announcement from Canada Soccer is expected soon. Jebbison has begun the process of his FIFA one-time change of association. Should that be completed in time, he would likely attend his first Canada training camp in March as part of the Concacaf Nations League finals. Canada will face Mexico in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to meet either the U.S. or Panama.

Jebbison has been a regular substitute for the Premier League’s Bournemouth in the second half of this season since returning from a loan to Championship side Watford. Jebbison has two goals in two FA Cup appearances this season but has not scored in eight substitute appearances in the Premier League. On Saturday, Canada manager Jesse Marsch attended Bournemouth’s 1-0 loss to Wolves at Vitality Stadium to see Jebbison come on in the 89th minute.

There have been several dual-nationals Marsch has been focused on bringing into the fold since he took the job in May. They include crafty Croatian-Canadian midfielder Niko Sigur, whom he landed in August, and hulking Nigerian-Canadian forward Promise David, who just gave his commitment. Jebbison has been highly coveted by previous Canada coaches as well, with John Herdman having been in contact with the forward. That’s with good reason: his combination of size, European experience early in his career and tantalizing upside have made him arguably the most intriguing Canadian dual-national recruit in recent memory.

Jebbison last played for England’s Under-20 side in May 2023 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Before that, he was part of the England team that won the 2022 U-19 European Championship (he scored one goal, vs. Serbia in the group stage).

Jebbison playing for England vs. Italy at the 2022 U-19 European Championship. (Photo by Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images)

Canada pushed their chips in on landing Jebbison after another dual-national with high potential, Luka Kulenović, was scooped up by Bosnia and Herzegovina. The high pressing worked. To lure him, Marsch had a number of conversations with the player and his representation. Marsch stressed newfound urgency with the 2026 World Cup less than two years away.

Jebbison was also partly convinced of how he could thrive with Canada thanks to a video Marsch and his staff created. The video highlighted the central principles and strengths of this Canada team: sprinting in transition, aggression and relentless movement among them. Following clips of Canada at its best, the video then displayed clips of Jebbison displaying those exact same strengths in his own game. The hope was that he would feel comfortable in transitioning to Canada’s pressing game in short order.

To aid in Canada’s recruitment, it turned to three top stars to record video messages expressing their interest in having him join the program: Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Alistair Johnston. Marsch also put a personal touch in his recruitment plan by creating a one-off Canada-themed pair of Air Jordans to gift to Jebbison.

Those with understanding of the decision believe Jebbison leaned toward Canada because he always felt he would eventually represent his birth country. Still, that Marsch pried Jebbison away from England and the potential opportunities down the road there, is a significant win. It’s an indicator that perhaps the soccer world is looking at Canada differently.

Jebbison also fills a need, as under Marsch, the Canadians have not been clinical enough. Through 13 games, they have scored just 12 goals, with four of those coming against lowly Suriname (currently 138th in FIFA’s world ranking) and only four others coming against non-Concacaf teams.

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Defensively, they’re a vastly improved side, and tactically, they appear to have a clear plan heading into 2026. Yet Canada also scored just one goal in the Copa América group stage. The minimum number of goals a team scored while advancing out of the group stage in the 2022 World Cup was two (U.S. and Poland). Even accounting for possibly weaker opponents in 2026 thanks to an increased field of 48, Canada is going to have to score more in tournament play to get out of the group stage for the first time ever in a men’s World Cup.

While Canada sees potential in its new player, Jebbison sees opportunity. The chance to all but surely play for a home side in a World Cup is one most professionals rarely get. Even at that point, Jebbison will not yet be in his prime. Proof of what a strong World Cup can do for Canadians’ club careers can be seen in Tajon Buchanan, who moved to Inter Milan in part due to his electric play in Qatar.

At the very least, Jebbison’s addition provides some much-needed forward depth for Canada. Jonathan David is a lock for a starting spot in 2026. But he is also used as more of a No. 10 than a forward stationed directly in front of goal. Cyle Larin is the team’s pure No. 9 and is highly valued thanks to his leadership and increased work rate. But he’s also scored just one goal since Marsch took over, against Panama. Jebbison might not have Larin’s experience, but there’s a belief around the Canada camp that if he gets regular club playing time, he could challenge Larin come ’26. He immediately slots in at third on Canada’s center forward depth chart.

Promise David’s recent rapid ascent puts him in the mix, but he also has just one season of experience in Belgium under his belt. Elsewhere, Tani Oluwaseyi and Theo Bair will keep getting call-ups but have yet to mount any challenge for a starting role.

Jebbison celebrates scoring on his Premier League debut, at age 17. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Jebbison has yet to offer the consistency needed to become more of a sure thing, but the glimpses have been there. He became the youngest player in Premier League history to score in his first start, doing so at 17 years, 309 days for Sheffield United in May 2021. He has not found the back of the net since in the Premier League, though.

Instead, he’s progressed steadily through the English ranks. In 2021-22, he scored seven goals on loan with League One’s Burton Albion, where he spent most of his season. Jebbison returned to Sheffield United in the Championship in 2022-23. The step up from one division to the next was encouraging for his development, but he still scored just once in 16 appearances.

Unfortunately, a blood clot limited him to just 20 minutes in 2023-24. He was given a fresh start with Bournemouth, which inked Jebbison to a four-year contract this past summer before sending him on loan to Watford, where he went goalless in 13 appearances and only made three starts. Still, it’s the potential that makes him a worthy and tantalizing add for Canada. At 6-foot-3, he has the kind of size that should help him be dangerous with his hold-up play. He can combine that with a knack for sniffing out open areas inside the box to pounce.

Beyond his raw tools, there’s also the potential for him to play in European competition next season leading into the World Cup, with Bournemouth currently only one point off a UEFA Europa League spot in the Premier League table.

Jebbison is still at the beginning of his development curve. That Marsch has a history of refining young talents within the Red Bull system could be an extra boon. His addition is far less of a play to win this year’s Nations League and Gold Cup than it is to solidify the 2026 squad. Come that year, there will be more eyeballs than ever on him, and if he remains on an upward trajectory, he could find himself making his World Cup debut in Toronto during Canada’s opener, just down the road from his hometown.

(Top photo: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)