The information was confirmed by Madam Pang, President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), herself. She affirmed that FAT had completed the prolonged process of contact and negotiation with Jude Soonsup-Bell since last year.
Jude Soonsup-Bell is close to successfully becoming a naturalized Thai citizen (Photo: FAT).
Immediately after the striker, born in 2004, agreed to play for the Thai national team, related paperwork for his nationality and international eligibility was urgently initiated. This aims to register the player in time for the FIFA Days period in November 2025, which includes a friendly against Singapore and an Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Sri Lanka.
Thailand’s head coach Anthony Hudson personally proposed Jude Soonsup-Bell’s call-up, stating that the 21-year-old striker would be an important addition to the “War Elephants'” attack.
Jude Soonsup-Bell was born in 2004. He has an English father and a Thai mother. He began his career at Chelsea, signing a professional contract at 17, and made his first-team debut against Brentford in the League Cup.
In 2023, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur, playing for their U21 team, before a brief spell at Cordoba (Spain) and is currently a player for Grimsby Town in England’s third division (League Two). This season, he has made 8 appearances for Grimsby Town.
Before choosing to play for the Thai national team, Jude Soonsup-Bell was a member of England’s youth teams from U15 to U19.
Jude Soonsup-Bell once played for Chelsea in the past (Photo: Getty).
Jude Soonsup-Bell’s arrival is seen as a significant step in the Thai national team’s youth development plan, as the team aims to qualify for the Asian Cup 2027. Furthermore, the striker’s inclusion is part of Thailand’s strategy to reclaim the AFF Cup title. After winning two consecutive AFF Cup tournaments in 2020 and 2022, the “War Elephants” lost the championship to Vietnam in 2024.
Madame Pang expressed her expectations: “Jude is a promising young talent, carrying Thai blood and a strong desire to contribute to his motherland. We will provide maximum support to help him integrate quickly with the national team.”
