Balogun rejects £40m Everton move in final hours of transfer window

Folarin Balogun rejected a move to Everton worth more than $50 million in the closing hours of the European summer transfer window, leaving the Premier League club short-handed up front after they had already sold forward Beto to Fiorentina.

The 25-year-old New York-born, London-raised striker had been given permission by Monaco to travel to Merseyside on Tuesday to complete his medical, and Everton submitted a deal sheet to the Premier League to secure a two-hour deadline extension to finalise the transfer. Both clubs had agreed on the fee, and Balogun had been offered a significant salary increase. Ultimately, however, Balogun decided against the move after the deal was renegotiated.

French sports daily L’Équipe reported that a complicating factor was Everton’s need to first complete the sale of Senegalese forward Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City. That transfer was finalised, but it was not enough to unlock the Balogun deal before the window shut.

Balogun arrives at the end of the summer window as one of the most sought-after American players in Europe following a breakout World Cup on home soil. He scored three goals in four games for the United States, including the winner in a knockout-stage victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, before the co-hosts were eliminated by Belgium 4-1 in the round of 16. His tournament was not without controversy — President Trump personally asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review a red card that would have ruled Balogun out of the Belgium match. FIFA suspended the suspension, allowing him to play.

Beyond Everton, Balogun had attracted reported interest from Champions League clubs Aston Villa and Spanish champions Barcelona, underlining the level of attention his performances generated this summer. He sat out a portion of Monaco’s preseason with a minor injury first sustained at the World Cup.

Monaco finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season, meaning Balogun will not have Champions League football this term if he remains at the club. The January transfer window represents the next opportunity for a move, and Everton — who could use a mobile forward to complement target man Thierno Barry under manager David Moyes — are expected to remain interested.