Top European league players Edouard and Jean-Baptiste reportedly nearing Haiti switch

CAP-HAÏTIEN — Two highly rated players, midfielder Gorby Jean-Baptiste and forward Odsonne Edouard, are reportedly close to final approval to play for Haiti, as Les Grenadiers continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The news of the high-level additions was echoed over the weekend by sports reporter Caleb Jephté Pierre and online outlet Sport Passion Info, respectively.

The Haitian journalist and Sport Passion Info said both players are in advanced discussions with the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), though no official confirmation has been issued.

“According to my information, the FHF is in pole position to welcome Gorby Jean-Baptiste,” Pierre wrote April 4 on X, adding the SC Braga midfielder has given his approval in principle.

Sport Passion Info separately reported in an April 4 video that Edouard has obtained a Haitian passport—an essential step in switching international allegiance.

“Osdonne is 75% a new Grenadier,” a reporter said in the video.

Edouard, 28, currently plays for RC Lens in France’s Ligue 1, where he ranks fourth among the league’s top scorers this season with 12 goals. Born in French Guiana, he previously represented France at the youth level but has not played for the senior national team, making him eligible to switch to Haiti more easily.

If finalized, Edouard would become one of the most accomplished attacking players to represent Haiti in recent history—and potentially the first active top-10 scorer from a major European league to join Les Grenadiers.

Jean-Baptiste, 23, has emerged as a key defensive midfielder for SC Braga in Portugal’s top division. Known for his ball recovery, composure under pressure and passing range, he could address one of Haiti’s most persistent weaknesses: controlling play in midfield.

A growing European core

Haiti has steadily added Europe-based talent since mid-2025 as part of a broader recruitment strategy targeting dual-national players.

 Haiti’s players from the Top 5 European leagues included:

Isidor, in particular, has already made an impact, scoring in a 1-1 draw against Iceland on March 31 in just his second appearance with Les Grenadiers.

If Edouard and Jean-Baptiste join, Haiti could field at least five players competing in top European leagues—an unprecedented level of depth for the national team.

World Cup test looms— with a rocket in attack and a general in midfield to narrow gaps

Haiti will face a daunting challenge at the World Cup, drawn in Group C alongside powerhouse and five-time champions Brazil, developing force Morocco, which finished 3rd in the 2022 World Cup— and Scotland, returning to the competition for the first time since 1998.

The team returns to the tournament for the first time since 1974 and is widely viewed as an underdog. Some international outlets, including Bleacher Report and the New York Times’ Atlantic, have ranked Haiti the lowest-seeded team in the 48-nation field. Goal.com places Les Grenadiers in 47th position, only ahead of Curaçao— the other Caribbean nation qualified for next summer’s global soccer event. 

Still, the addition of experienced European-based players could narrow the gap.

Edouard would bring a combination of size, mobility and finishing ability to Haiti’s attack. The 6-foot-2 striker is known for his technical skill, movement off the ball and decision-making in the final third—using both feet with precision and power.

He was developed at Paris Saint-Germain’s academy before breaking out at Celtic, in Scotland’s first division, where he scored 57 goals in 94 appearances between 2018 and 2021. He later played for Crystal Palace in the English Premier League—scoring 18 goals before joining Lens this season.

The Haitian-French star striker is at the peak of his career with RC Lens. He was reportedly hoping to be called up by the French national team for the World Cup. But head coach Didier Deschamps favored other attackers.

Jean-Baptiste, meanwhile, offers balance in midfield. A box-to-box profile, he combines defensive discipline with the ability to carry the ball forward and distribute precise passes under pressure—qualities Haiti has often lacked in possession-based play. He is a reliable finisher from long range and inside the box, making him a well-rounded midfielder.

Fans and analysts have long said that Haiti’s team needs a deep-lying midfielder to initiate plays and help break down attacks. The team might finally have someone in Jean-Baptiste.

Haiti’s two warm-up games during the next international window in early June will be its final opportunity to integrate new players before the World Cup begins June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The dates of those matches have yet to be determined.

If administrative approvals are completed in time, both Edouard and Jean-Baptiste could make their debuts during those friendlies.

For now, their arrivals remain unconfirmed—but the possibility signals Haiti’s intent to compete, not just participate, on soccer’s biggest stage.

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