Arsenal youngster Mika Biereth has been included in Denmark’s U19 squad for next month’s international break.
The 18-year-old left Fulham for the Gunners in the summer and signed his first professional contract with the north London club.
Having managed 21 goals and 13 assists for the Cottagers in the Premier League U18s last term, the striker has continued his fine form this season.
He has four goals and an assist for Arsenal in five Premier League 2 matches. The London-born player’s impressive performances have helped him make it to Denmark’s U19 squad.
Although Biereth is unknown to majority of Danish football fans, he is well known within their association. This has been confirmed by DBU’s Head of Elite Development, Flemming Berg.
“We actually had him already in 2018 for U16s, so he is not new to us. At that time, he was not quite ready, but we have of course kept in touch with him and followed him,” Berg told Tipsbladet.
“He is doing a great job at Arsenal and we’ve been following him lately. Last week, U19 coach Lars Knudsen was over to visit him and held a meeting with Mika and his father, Michael. He watched him both train and play and held a meeting with the people at Arsenal.”
Over the years, Denmark have seen a handful of players, who were either born there or with Danish roots, represent other countries instead.
Berg has admitted he and the DBU don’t try to lure anyone, and that’s exactly what they did with Arsenal’s talented youngster.
“Often, we get a request about players who play abroad. It can be directly from the players, their parents or other collaborators. We then start doing our low homework: can he be for us?” he explained.
“We are not those kind of people who try to lure them here and give them a match to tie them to Denmark.
“Back in 17-18 we were approached that there was a player at Fulham who had the opportunity to get a Danish passport and whether it was something we wanted to look at.
“Of course, we would, and then we did. Then we invited him to the U16s. It was based on an inquiry in our network. It is often with the very young players.”
