Monaco chief reveals how Everton's medical doubts drove Balogun to reject deadline-day move

Folarin Balogun’s deadline-day transfer to Everton collapsed in the final five minutes of the January window after the striker refused to sign a completed contract, with AS Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro now revealing that disputed medical findings were at the heart of the breakdown.

Speaking to Get French Football News, Scuro described how Balogun flew to Liverpool on deadline day to undergo his medical and finalise the move, which would have provided Monaco with both wage relief and a significant transfer fee. The process appeared to be running smoothly until around 7pm, when Everton’s medical staff raised concerns that Scuro said neither Monaco’s medical team nor Balogun’s personal doctors could accept.

“Around 7pm, we were contacted by Everton, raising questions about Balogun’s medical, which, for our medical staff, as well as for the player’s personal medical staff, made no sense at all,” Scuro said. “The explanations were not enough to justify or to bring concerns regarding the future of the player, which there aren’t.”

The dispute between the two clubs’ medical departments dragged on for two to three hours as Everton consulted additional specialists and reviewed imaging. Reports that Balogun had failed his medical circulated publicly while those consultations were still ongoing — roughly half an hour after Monaco were first contacted, according to Scuro.

By around 10pm local time, Everton had concluded there was no issue and were ready to proceed. Both clubs signed the contract with five minutes left before the window closed. At that point, Balogun refused.

“At the last moment, the player decided not to sign,” Scuro said. “Basically, Balogun’s allegation is that he’s not feeling well because of the way the club treated him. ‘I’m not feeling well because Everton’s medical department raised doubts about my future or my health.’”

The collapse left Monaco without the income they had factored into their financial planning for the season. Scuro had earlier confirmed that the club resisted late approaches from Chelsea for midfielder Lamine Camara on the same deadline day, making Balogun’s fee and wage contribution all the more important to their books.

Balogun, a United States international who joined Monaco from Arsenal in 2023, remains at the Ligue 1 club for now. Everton, who were seeking attacking reinforcements under manager Sean Dyche, ended the window without securing the striker.