Balogun rejects move from Monaco to Everton
Monaco and United States national team forward Folarin Balogun refused to sign a contract with Everton several hours before the transfer window closed in England. The move was valued at $54 million. As reported by Korea Herald, Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro linked the footballer's decision to how he perceived the English club's treatment during the completion of the deal.
Medical examination and collapse of the deal
Balogun underwent a medical examination in England, after which Everton expressed concerns about his health. The medical departments of the two clubs discussed the situation for several hours, and Everton then decided to proceed with the transfer.
According to Scuro, five minutes before the English transfer window closed, he and Everton signed the contract. However, the player himself refused to add his signature at the last moment. The Monaco executive said that Balogun felt uncomfortable because of the doubts Everton's medical department had expressed about his future or health. According to Scuro, the footballer himself does not believe he has health problems.
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Consequences for the clubs
Some media outlets reported that Everton had allegedly tried to revise the transfer fee for the 25-year-old forward, but Scuro did not mention such negotiations. Balogun became a late transfer target for Everton after striker Beto moved to Italy's Fiorentina.
The 1878s fan group stated that after the deal collapsed, the team was left with one striker and no backup full-backs. During the offseason, Everton also loaned Jack Grealish from Manchester City for one season for the second consecutive time and signed defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon.
Keeping Balogun creates financial difficulties for Monaco, as the club had budgeted for his sale. The forward, who was born in New York and grew up in London, scored 31 goals in 91 matches for the Monegasques. Scuro noted that the footballer's transfer is still possible, as transfer windows remain open in some leagues.
