Folarin Balogun’s proposed £40m Everton move collapses after late U-turn

A proposed £40 million ($54 million) transfer of United States international forward Folarin Balogun from French club AS Monaco to English Premier League team Everton collapsed after the player withdrew from the deal following the transfer deadline, according to sources reported by ESPN.

The 25-year-old striker, who previously represented Arsenal and Middlesbrough, had traveled to Merseyside on transfer deadline day after both clubs reached an initial agreement on the transfer fee. However, unnamed sources said that an unspecified issue emerged during Balogun’s medical examination at Everton’s Finch Farm training facility, forcing the clubs to renegotiate the terms of the deal.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro addressed the situation, stating that Everton’s medical staff spent two to three hours conducting extra assessments and consulting outside specialists. Scuro insisted that the medical concerns raised by Everton made no sense to Monaco’s medical team or to Balogun’s personal physician, maintaining that the player had no health problems.

While the transfer hung in the balance, Everton unsuccessfully attempted to secure a loan deal for Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee. Meanwhile, Monaco briefly opened talks with Chelsea regarding a potential transfer for Lamine Camara after information about the medical delays leaked publicly.

Having already sanctioned deadline-day departures for forwards Beto and Iliman Ndiaye, Everton notified Monaco around 10:00 p.m. BST that their medical concerns were resolved and that they were prepared to complete the signing. Five minutes before the 23:00 BST deadline, the clubs submitted a deal sheet to the Premier League, granting a two-hour window past the deadline to submit final documentation.

Although both AS Monaco and Everton signed the official transfer contract during the extended window, Balogun had a post-midnight change of heart and decided to walk away from the transfer to return to Monaco. Scuro stated that Balogun felt uncomfortable with Everton’s conduct, quoting the forward as being “not feeling well by the way the club treated me” due to the doubts cast on his health and future.

The late collapse leaves Everton manager David Moyes without attacking reinforcements at the close of the transfer window, leaving the club unable to add players unless they sign an unattached free agent.

Background

In professional football, transfer windows dictate the periods during which clubs can register new players acquired from other teams. On deadline day in English football, the Premier League permits clubs to submit a “deal sheet” shortly before the cutoff time if an agreement has been reached but final paperwork remains incomplete. Submitting this form grants clubs an additional two hours beyond the official deadline to finalize contract details and complete the registration.

Once the transfer window closes, clubs are prohibited from buying or loaning players who are under contract with other teams. Their only remaining option to reinforce their squads outside the window is to sign free agents—players who are currently without a club and not bound by a contract elsewhere.