Former Celtic centre-back Christopher Jullien is reportedly poised to make a surprise appearance at international level – for Guadeloupe.

Despite being born and raised in France with no familial connections to the Caribbean island, Jullien qualifies under a specific FIFA rule that allows players to represent non-FIFA nations that are members of other football confederations.

Guadeloupe is a member of CONCACAF but not FIFA, and under Article 6 of FIFA’s eligibility rules, a player with French nationality can turn out for the island nation.

This pathway has been used in the past by other French nationals, as Guadeloupe remains a French overseas department, and FIFA’s regulations permit this unique crossover.

Jullien, who spent three years at Celtic between 2019 and 2022, could now be set for a run at this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, if reports from SunSport are to be believed. His time at Parkhead reached its by his match-winning goal in the 2019 League Cup Final against Rangers. It was ultimately over when the defender’s leg clashed the post in the COVID season against Dundee United.

By the time he made his injury comeback, Carter-Vickers and Starfelt had built a solid partnership and the exit door was open for him.

Now playing his club football back in France, the 31-year-old could be about to add a new chapter to his career on the international stage – albeit not with Les Bleus, but with Les Gwada Boys.