Balogun blocked, Lira missed: AS Monaco's catastrophic transfer window

AS Monaco concluded the summer transfer window in fiasco: Folarin Balogun’s transfer to Everton, announced as finalized Monday evening at €45 million plus €5 million in bonuses, never went through, leaving the club in sporting and administrative limbo.

Balogun, Monaco’s leading scorer last season, had been set to leave for three months. Trained at Arsenal and author of a remarkable 2026 World Cup with the United States, the striker seemed destined for a return to the Premier League. Everton finally made their move as the deadline approached, and an agreement had been reached according to journalist Fabrizio Romano. But the Toffees never validated the operation: the finalization of Iliman Ndiaye’s transfer to Manchester City monopolized their administrative resources until the expiration of the English transfer window at midnight.

As a direct consequence, Monaco found itself unable to register Erik Lira, Mexican midfielder from Cruz Azul, whose arrival was conditional on freeing up a non-EU player slot. An agreement at €8 million plus €3 million in bonuses had nonetheless been concluded with the Mexican club. Independent journalist Romain Molina severely judged the handling of the situation: “Disastrous end of the transfer window for AS Monaco’s sporting director Thiago Scouro, who thought he was smarter than everyone else to sell coveted players at a high price while signing Erik Lira, Mexican player desired by his compatriot and assistant, Carlos Avina.”

The sequence is part of an overall disappointing record. Lamine Camara, also set to leave, ultimately stayed after Chelsea’s €50 million offer was rejected. Only Maghnes Akliouche left the Rock, joining PSG. Coach Filipe Luis now inherits an attack-heavy squad, with four strikers: Balogun, Mika Biereth, new recruit Mathis Abline and summer revelation Paris Brunner.