Folarin Balogun's proposed move to Everton fell apart on the final day of the summer transfer window after the striker arrived late for his medical and Monaco withdrew consent despite agreed terms. The United States international had travelled from Nice to Liverpool John Lennon Airport around 1:30 p.m. Local time on September 2, 2026, before proceeding to Finch Farm for medical examinations. Everton had secured a two-hour grace period from the Premier League to complete the deal past the 11 p.m. Deadline, with both Monaco and Balogun having agreed personal terms by that time.
What caused the Balogun transfer to collapse at Everton?
Everton's frustration stemmed from Monaco's delayed provision of medical reports and Balogun's late arrival, which denied them time to resolve concerns raised during the examination. Thiago Scuro, Monaco's sporting director, stated in a Wednesday morning news conference: "The allegation of Balogun is that, 'I'm not feeling well by the way the club treated me, the way the medical team brought doubts about my future or my health. I'm not comfortable to sign a long contract here.'" Scuro added: "That's the way we finished the transfer window here." Everton believed the lack of professionalism from both parties undermined a deal that had cleared all procedural hurdles, including Premier League permission to proceed despite the late hour.
How does this fit into Everton's current transfer situation?
The failed move left Everton short in attack after earlier departures of Beto to Fiorentina and Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City. With the transfer window closed, Thierno Barry remains the club's only recognised central striker, following unsuccessful attempts to sign Joshua Zirkzee on loan from Manchester United and Tammy Abraham from Aston Villa. Everton's need for frontline reinforcement comes as they sit 7th in the Premier League with 4 points from two games, boasting a +2 goal difference and trailing leaders Manchester City by just two points ahead of their home fixture versus Manchester United on September 6, 2026. For more on their current squad and upcoming fixtures, see our dedicated pages.
What does this mean for the USMNT's summer window?
Balogun's unsuccessful deadline-day move encapsulates an underwhelming summer for the United States men's national team, which saw limited high-profile transfers despite his proven quality. The 23-year-old had previously scored three goals for the USMNT at the FIFA World Cup, including a red card in the round-of-32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. His failed Everton move follows a pattern where Monaco needed to sell him to alleviate financial pressures from declining Ligue 1 media rights revenue, having previously attempted to offload Lamine Camara to Chelsea and pursue Érik Lira from Cruz Azul-both deals collapsing as the Balogun situation unfolded.
Where does Everton go from here in the transfer market?
With the summer window shut, Everton must now rely on internal options until January, having already seen previous medical setbacks overcome-such as Antonee Robinson's irregular heartbeat detected in a 2020 AC Milan transfer that was later corrected via minor surgery before his Fulham success. The Toffees' current standing reflects resilience, with David Moyes in his second managerial stint guiding a side that has finished 13th in each of the last two Premier League seasons. ESPN's projections have Everton finishing 15th this campaign, though their early form suggests they could exceed expectations if defensive solidity translates to more consistent attacking output. Check their latest stats and standings for full context.
