3 weeks ago
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Folarin Balogun was supposed to be Everton’s marquee summer signing. Instead, he’s back at Monaco, and two clubs are left pointing fingers at deadline-day chaos that torpedoed not one but two major transfers.
The American international’s proposed €45 million move to Goodison Park fell apart on September 1, just hours before the Premier League transfer window slammed shut at 23:00 BST. What started as a done deal turned into a renegotiation, which turned into Balogun walking away entirely.
How a done deal became no deal
Monaco and Everton reached an agreement on August 31 for a deal reportedly structured at €45 million fixed plus €5 million in performance-related add-ons, totaling roughly £39 million or about $52 million.
Balogun traveled to Merseyside and completed a medical examination on September 1, the final day of the window. That’s when things went sideways.
An undisclosed issue surfaced during the medical, prompting Everton to push for renegotiations on the deal structure. The club wanted a lower upfront fee with additional incentives tied to performance.
Balogun himself chose not to sign the contract, reportedly citing concerns over what Everton’s medical department had flagged about his health.
The domino effect: Chelsea and Lamine Camara
Monaco’s CEO Thiago Scuro revealed that Balogun’s collapsed transfer directly sabotaged a separate deal that would have sent midfielder Lamine Camara to Chelsea. Monaco had been operating under the assumption that the Balogun sale would go through, and with that cash inflow secured, they were prepared to let Camara leave.
Once it became clear Balogun wasn’t signing, Monaco pulled the plug on the Camara deal.
What Everton is left with
Everton’s attacking options now look considerably thinner than the club had planned. The Toffees sold striker Beto to Fiorentina earlier in the window, banking on Balogun as the replacement.
The club did manage to secure Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City before the deadline. Everton also explored loan moves for Joshua Zirkzee and Tammy Abraham during the window’s dying hours. Neither materialized.
Balogun’s trajectory and what comes next
Balogun left Arsenal for Monaco in 2023 in a €30 million transfer. His 2025-26 season was strong enough to attract the kind of fee Everton were willing to pay, nearly doubling what Monaco originally invested. He scored three goals for the United States at the 2026 World Cup. His contract with Monaco runs until 2028.
Reports suggest that discussions about Balogun’s future remain active as of September 2, with markets like Turkey and Saudi Arabia mentioned as potential destinations.
For Monaco, the frustration is twofold. They missed out on a €45 million windfall and simultaneously blocked their own ability to move Camara. Scuro’s public comments about the chain reaction suggest the club isn’t interested in quietly absorbing this setback.
The medical issue that triggered the renegotiation remains undisclosed. Neither side has offered specifics.
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