London (AFP) – Folarin Balogun’s £40 million ($54 million) move to Everton from Monaco collapsed hours before the transfer window closed because the United States striker pulled out over his “treatment” by the Premier League side, the Ligue 1 club’s managing director said on Wednesday.
Balogun, who was at the center of controversy at the World Cup after US President Donald Trump successfully intervened to force FIFA to suspend a red card so he could play against Belgium in the last 16, had undergone a medical in England before Everton started to raise some concerns about his fitness. Although the Premier League side decided to proceed with the deal—after a couple of hours of discussions between the two clubs’ medical departments—Balogun pulled the plug himself.
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“Five minutes before the close of the (English) transfer window…I signed the contract, and Everton signed the contract,” Monaco managing director Thiago Scuro told reporters. “At the last moment, the player decided not to sign.” Scuro explained that the allegation from Balogun was that he “was not feeling well by the way the club treated” him, and that he felt uncomfortable signing a long contract due to concerns about the medical department of Everton.
Some reports had suggested that Everton attempted to renegotiate the fee for the 25-year-old Balogun, but Scuro did not mention any such discussions. Balogun emerged as a late target for the Toffees after Guinea-Bissau international Beto completed a move to Serie A club Fiorentina. His decision to back out has left Everton light on forwards for the new season, although they did secure the return of Jack Grealish on a season-long loan deal from Manchester City for the second consecutive campaign.
Everton also signed English defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles from French club Lyon. However, The 1878s, an Everton supporters’ group, accused the club’s US-based owners, The Friedkin Group, of failing in their duty during the window. “To leave us with no back up full-backs and just one striker is full-on gross negligence,” they said.
Balogun caught the eye with his performances at the World Cup this year, but after a red card he received in the USA’s defeat of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 ruled him out of the last-16 clash with Belgium, Trump intervened. FIFA’s decision to suspend the card, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium, attracted widespread criticism directed at the world football governing body’s chief, Gianni Infantino, who developed a close relationship with Trump. The USA lost the game 4-1, and Balogun later admitted that the furore surrounding the red card had affected the team’s performance.
Balogun, who was born in New York City but grew up in London, has scored 31 goals in 91 appearances for Monaco. His decision to remain has left Monaco in a financial pickle, as they had budgeted for his sale. They had discussed selling Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara to Chelsea if the Balogun deal fell through, but had pulled out of that when they thought their striker would leave— which he may yet do as some leagues have yet to shut their transfer windows.
“We still have other markets open, and we are having discussions about different players, including Balo,” said Scuro. “Let’s see what can still happen until Thursday because we still have markets that have the financial capacity to do something.”
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