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Folarin Balogun remains a Monaco player after a dramatic transfer window and says a return to the Premier League is still on the table. His next weeks at Monaco will shape both his club role and his standing with the U.S. men’s national team.
Why the Everton move collapsed
The 25-year-old striker pulled out of a near-complete switch to Everton on Deadline Day after the Premier League club raised concerns about his medical. Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro said Balogun did not feel “comfortable to sign a long contract here,” and the transfer unraveled twice within hours.
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USMNT forward Folarin Balogun speaks out about collapsed Everton move
Asked about a future return to England while attending the NFL London game in 2026, Balogun told talkSPORT that the Premier League is “definitely an option.” He added, “Football has many twists and turns… I was close to a transfer, it didn’t materialize, but for sure it’s definitely an option.”
Immediate consequences at Monaco
Off the field, the transfer uncertainty had competitive consequences. Monaco omitted Balogun from their UEFA Conference League squad because his status was unclear when the club submitted the list. He has logged only 14 minutes of action this season so far.
Club form will matter. Monaco sit atop the Ligue 1 table after five games, and 20-year-old Germany international Paris Brunner has already scored six goals across competitions, strengthening his bid to be the team’s starting center forward. Monaco are expected to reintegrate Balogun and could register him for the knockout rounds of the Conference League, but that depends on fitness and form.
Reputational fallout from the World Cup
The summer began positively: Balogun scored three goals for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup. That period was overshadowed, however, by a controversial red card and a subsequent reversal by FIFA after reported intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend the ban. The episode remains a lingering talking point around the forward.
Growing competition for USMNT minutes
Balogun’s international place is not guaranteed. He was left off coach Mauricio Pochettino’s fall roster, in part because he had not featured for Monaco since the World Cup. Pochettino used the window to hand chances to young forwards, with several seizing them.
Teenager Julian Hall, 18, made headlines by scoring in his first three internationals — a feat not seen since Pelé — while Justin Ellis combined well at Orlando City with Antoine Griezmann and opened his USMNT account minutes into his senior debut. Multiple newcomers have produced immediate impact, raising the bar for established names.
With rivals making fast impressions, Balogun faces pressure at both club and international level. He must regain the form that yielded 19 club goals last season and return to regular minutes for Monaco after the international break; otherwise, missing out on a move to the Premier League may be only the start of his challenges.
