Monaco chief claims Balogun cancelled £40m Everton move after feeling 'mistreated' in medical

Folarin Balogun rejected a £40 million deadline-day transfer to Everton after feeling ‘mistreated’ during his medical, according to AS Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro. The 25-year-old United States international had been set to sign a long-term contract at Finch Farm before leaving the training ground without putting pen to paper.

Scuro addressed the collapsed deal at a press conference on Wednesday morning, offering a direct account of Balogun’s reasoning. “The allegation of Balogun is that, ‘I’m not feeling well by the way the club treated me, the way the medical team brought doubts about my future or my health. I’m not comfortable to sign a long contract here’,” the Monaco chief said. “That’s the way we finished the transfer window here.”

The deal had appeared close to completion after a fee was agreed between the two clubs, with Balogun travelling to Everton’s training ground to undergo the standard pre-signing checks. However, issues raised during the medical process led the striker to pull out at the eleventh hour on deadline day.

The breakdown leaves David Moyes without a forward he had been counting on, and Monaco holding a player who has now publicly distanced himself from one high-profile move. Balogun has been a key figure for Monaco since joining from Arsenal, and his future remains unresolved following the failed transfer.

Everton had not responded to requests for comment regarding Scuro’s allegations at the time of publication.