Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones, a dual citizen, wants to play for US instead of Germany

Schalke midfielder Jones wants to play for US

FRANKFURT — Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones has told the governing body of German soccer federation that he wants to play for the U.S. national team.

Jones has dual German and U.S. citizenship and has played three exhibitions for Germany. According to new FIFA regulations, Jones can switch national teams since he never played in a tournament game for Germany, the Deutscher Fussball Bund said Friday.

The 27-year-old midfielder did not make Germany’s European Championship team last year.

“We’ve accepted Jermaine Jones’ decision and we wish him all the best in his future career,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

Jones is the son of an American soldier and grew up in Frankfurt, where he played for Eintracht before moving to Schalke in 2007.

“I understand from Jermaine Jones’ representatives — and now from public statements by the DFB — of his intention to apply for a change of status under FIFA’s recently revised regulations,” U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said in a statement. “Once that process is completed, he’ll be eligible for selection to the U.S. national team.”