Balogun walks away from £40m Everton move at the 11th hour, leaving Moyes short upfront

Folarin Balogun walked away from a £40m move to Everton on transfer deadline day after the Premier League club attempted to renegotiate terms following a medical concern, leaving manager David Moyes critically short of striking options.

Everton had agreed a fee with Monaco for the 25-year-old United States international, but when the forward’s medical flagged an issue, the club sought to amend the deal. Balogun responded by withdrawing from the transfer entirely, ending what had appeared to be one of the summer’s more straightforward signings.

The timing could hardly have been worse for Moyes. Earlier on deadline day, Everton had sold striker Beto to Fiorentina, and a late attempt to bring in Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee on a season-long loan was rejected. That leaves Thierno Barry as the club’s only recognised senior striker heading into the new campaign.

Elsewhere in a busy deadline day at Goodison Park, Everton re-signed Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City, having sold Iliman Ndiaye to the FA Cup winners for £60m. The club also completed the signing of right-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon for around £4.2m. The former Arsenal player has signed a three-year contract at Hill Dickinson Stadium, becoming Everton’s seventh summer signing.

The collapse of the Balogun deal also has implications elsewhere. Monaco had needed to sell on deadline day, but the failed transfer will not reopen Chelsea’s pursuit of Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara. Chelsea are reported to be furious after Monaco pulled out of a £47m agreement for the 22-year-old — a deal that had been set in motion after the Blues sold Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for £125m.