Arsenal midfielder Gedion Zelalem cleared by Fifa to play for United States

Arsenal starlet Gedion Zelalem has been cleared by Fifa to play for the United States and will represent the country at this summer's Under-20 World Cup.

Zelalem, 18, was born in Germany to Ethiopian parents and lived in Maryland before joining Arsenal's youth academy when he was 16.

The US Soccer Federation confirmed the news on Wednesday, a move that also makes the midfielder eligible for the United States' CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign this summer.

Zelalem gained US citizenship last December.

US Under-20 head coach Tab Ramos revealed last week he had left a spot open for the gifted midfielder who he believes can play an integral role in his set-up despite not having a defined position in mind.

"He's a good player," Ramos said last week. "He's a creative player. Those are players that I like because you can't really coach them. You just have to generally put them in positions and, hopefully, put them into position to succeed. He's one of those players. I believe we fit him into our system in a position where he can be creative and do good things for us."

Highly-regarded in north London, Zelalem has made two appearances for the Arsenal first team, against Coventry City in an FA Cup clash in January 2014 before his Champions League debut against Galatasaray in December later that year.

His debut against Coventry saw him make Gunners history as he became the first player born after Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal to play for the club.

He was rewarded with his first professional contract two months later in March.