Folarin Balogun could yet move clubs after failed Everton deal, says Monaco CEO
Monaco will hold discussions with Folarin Balogun about the possibility of moving elsewhere after his agreed deadline-day move to Everton broke down, the club’s CEO Thiago Scuro said Thursday.
The Athletic reported on Wednesday that the United States men’s national team striker decided against the move to England after a renegotiated deal was agreed between Everton and Monaco, with the transfer complicated by issues which arose during the player’s medical.
Balogun, 25, is now set to return to Monaco, and Scuro suggested the club could seek a deal for the striker before Thursday, with multiple other transfer markets still open.
“We are still waiting Balo to come back for us, to sit and discuss and to realize between us what’s next,” Scuro said in a press conference, via Monaco’s YouTube channel. “We still have other markets open which we are having discussions … different players including Balo, let’s see what can still happen until Thursday because we still have markets that has the financial capacity to do something.”
Scuro confirmed that both Everton and Monaco had signed the paperwork for the Balogun deal and submitted a deal sheet to the Premier League, after the English club decided to go ahead with the deal following extensive talks over the medical issue. Scuro claimed Balogun decided against the move after feeling mistreated by Everton and that they “brought doubts about (his) future or health”.
“Balo mentioned to us this feeling that was not comfortable, he didn’t want to sign, we didn’t see ourselves in a position to push him for nothing,” Scuro said, claiming the medical issues brought forward by Everton “were not enough to justify or to bring concerns of the future of the player”.
“This discussion started between medical departments from here and there,” he added. “It took forever, around two, three hours to go deep on the assessment check with other doctors.”
Scuro added that Balogun “refused other things” in order to join Everton, and that his departure this summer was part of Monaco’s financial plan, with the club typically cashing in on players after their third season.
As doubts grew over Everton’s move for Balogun on Tuesday, the club made an offer to Manchester United for Joshua Zirzkee but saw that rejected, with the Old Trafford side feeling they did not have enough time to find a replacement for their striker.
Everton’s failure to sign a striker after the departure of Beto to Fiorentina means Thierno Barry is the only recognised No 9 remaining at the club. Winger Iliman Ndiaye, meanwhile, left Everton to join Manchester City, with Jack Grealish returning on loan.
Balogun has been a key player for Monaco since joining from Arsenal in 2023, and scored 19 goals in all competitions last season ahead of starring for the U.S. at the World Cup.
Scuro also revealed that when it seemed a deal with Everton for Balogun appeared likely, he informed Chelsea that they would not be selling midfielder Lamine Camara before the transfer deadline. The Athletic reported that a £47m deal was agreed between the two clubs for Camara, before Monaco pulled out of the deal late on Tuesday.