Folarin Balogun’s proposed £40 million transfer from AS Monaco to Everton collapsed on September 1 after the United States international changed his mind following a medical at Finch Farm. The late deal fell through despite both clubs and the player signing a deal sheet before the transfer window closed.
How Folarin Balogun’s Deadline Day Move to Everton Collapsed
Everton’s pursuit of AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun fell through after the 25-year-old forward experienced a late change of heart. The player had already traveled to Merseyside and completed his physical examination at the club’s Finch Farm training base on September 1 at the transfer deadline. AS Monaco and Everton had been in discussions for several days regarding the transfer, with multiple media reports indicating that the United States men’s national team forward was the one who withdrew from the proposed move.
The amount of the transfer would have been around £40 million (S$69 million). According to The Athletic, Everton spotted something in the medical exam that prompted a renegotiation with Monaco over the transfer fee. Everton requested an extension of the transfer deadline to complete the deal, but then Balogun opted not to continue with the move. Both clubs and the United States international actually signed a deal sheet before the 23:00 BST deadline before Balogun ultimately walked away from the proposed move.
Everton’s Alternative Deadline Day Targets and Squad Shuffles
The scramble for a new forward arose after Everton’s Guinea-Bissau frontman Beto completed a permanent transfer to Serie A club Fiorentina on transfer deadline day. To fill the vacancy, the Toffees explored moves for Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee and Aston Villa frontman Tammy Abraham, though neither player could be convinced to join the Merseyside outfit.
While the Balogun transfer unravelled, Everton secured another high-profile addition by bringing in Jack Grealish on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City. Grealish spent the 2025-26 season on loan with Everton, making 20 appearances, before sustaining a season-ending foot injury in January. The 30-year-old had been linked with other teams – including boyhood club Aston Villa – but has opted to reunite with David Moyes on Merseyside. Grealish, who joined City from Villa for £100m in August 2021, scored twice and provided six assists in 20 appearances during his previous spell with Everton, winning the Premier League Player of the Month for August. The England international returned from injury during Manchester City’s Community Shield defeat against Arsenal on 16 August, and also featured under Enzo Maresca in City’s opening game of the 2026-27 Premier League season as they beat Bournemouth 2-1.
“I think I’m at my best at everything in life, not just football, when I feel loved. That’s what the manager has given me, what my team-mates have given me and especially what the fans have given me,”
Jack Grealish, via BBC
“Every time I see an Everton fan, it’s just pure love and the way they’ve welcomed me since that first game against Leeds, I’ll never forget that.”
Jack Grealish, via BBC
Balogun’s Background and Recent International Stint
Before his near-miss with Everton, Balogun’s off-season had been indicated by various reports to feature potential transfers to Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace according to multiple reports. Over the past three seasons with Monaco, Balogun scored 31 goals with nine assists in 91 matches (67 starts) across all competitions. He previously played in the Premier League with Arsenal during the 2021-22 season and had loan spells at Middlesbrough in the English Championship and Reims in France before he joined Monaco. A native of England to Nigerian parents, Balogun was born in New York, which qualified him to play for the US, and he has scored 12 goals across 31 matches for the US national team since 2023.
International audiences also watched Balogun feature prominently for the United States men’s national team. He scored twice in the US’ opening victory of the World Cup against Paraguay, then added a goal in the round-of-32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina. In that latter match, he was shown a red card in the 64th minute, a decision that wound up making international waves. Controversy ensued when Balogun’s one-game suspension was lifted and he was able to play in the US’ round-of-16 match against Belgium. US President Donald Trump announced that he had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to appeal on Balogun’s behalf, though Infantino denied Trump had anything to do with the decision to reinstate Balogun. The US ultimately lost 4-1 to the Belgians and were eliminated from the World Cup.
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