Olise called up to full France squad for Nations League matches

English-born winger Michael Olise has been rewarded for his standout performances at the Olympics by earning a call-up to the French national team, announced on Thursday.

The 22-year-old, who was raised in London by a Nigerian father and French-Algerian mother, played a pivotal role in Thierry Henry’s French squad that secured a silver medal at the Paris Games earlier this month.

Olise, who recently transferred from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich for a reported fee of 60 million euros ($66.6 million), was a key player in the Premier League last season, scoring 10 goals in 19 appearances.

The call-up comes ahead of France’s UEFA Nations League campaign next month.

“Michael did great things with Thierry Henry’s Olympic team. And he has moved up into a new category with his transfer to Bayern Munich,” coach Didier Deschamps told reporters.

“It is quite logical that he should now come with us. He still has progress to make but potentially he has a lot of quality.”

France will host Italy at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Friday, September 6, before facing Belgium three days later in Lyon.

Olise is not the only player from the Olympic squad to earn a call-up. Borussia Monchengladbach’s 23-year-old midfielder, Manu Kone, has also been selected by Deschamps.

Chelsea center-back Wesley Fofana, 23, returns to the squad. His only previous cap came in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Gibraltar over a year ago.

In addition to Olise, Kylian Mbappe will appear for France for the first time since joining Real Madrid.

Several players from Euro 2024, where France reached the semi-finals, have been left out this time. Notable absentees include Inter Milan defender Benjamin Pavard, Bayern winger Kingsley Coman, and midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

Rabiot, who was a regular at the Euros, is missing due to his current status as a free agent after leaving Juventus when his contract expired.

Veteran striker Olivier Giroud, now with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC, has retired from international duty following the European Championship.

Les Bleus, who won the Nations League in 2021, will also face Israel in League A Group 2, with remaining matches scheduled for October and November.

Olise in France squad

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United/ENG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Lens)

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea/ENG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid/ESP), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)

Midfielders: Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan/ITA), N’Golo Kante (Al Ittihad/KSA), Manu Kone (Borussia Moenchengladbach/GER), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele (both Paris Saint-Germain), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/ESP), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)