Balogun ends goal drought and earns Monaco's Conference League squad recall as Fati drops out injured

Folarin Balogun has been reinstated to Monaco’s UEFA Conference League squad, UEFA’s official website confirmed on Tuesday, with the United States men’s national team striker replacing the injured Ansu Fati among the club’s registered forwards.

Ansu Fati was hurt during Monaco’s Ligue 1 fixture against Lille on October 25 and, according to French daily L’Équipe, faces two months on the sidelines. Balogun’s return to the list ends a period of significant uncertainty over his future at the Stade Louis II.

The 23-year-old has been restricted to substitute appearances this season, featuring in five games before breaking his goal drought in a 3-1 defeat at Paris FC on Sunday — his first strike of the campaign. Monaco had originally left him out of their Conference League squad because the club retained the option of selling him to a league where the transfer window was still open, but no deal materialised.

Balogun had come close to joining Everton for a reported £40 million ($54 million) on the final day of the summer transfer window on September 1, only to withdraw from the move after the Premier League club raised concerns about his health during a medical examination.

His situation has been further complicated by events at the FIFA World Cup, where Balogun — regarded as a key figure for the United States — received a red card during the round-of-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. FIFA subsequently deferred his one-game suspension after U.S. President Donald Trump contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the decision. Balogun was cleared to play in the round of 16 but struggled to make an impact as the United States were eliminated by Belgium.

Monaco have made a strong start in the Conference League, winning both of their opening matches against CSKA Sofia and Freiburg. They face FC Nordsjælland on Thursday, with further group-phase fixtures against Hearts, Brighton, and Lincoln Red Imps still to come.