Everton’s move for Folarin Balogun is off after the United States international decided against the move.
The Premier League team had renegotiated a deal for Balogun with his club, Monaco, after issues arose during the 25-year-old striker’s medical.
Everton submitted a dealsheet — a document submitted to the Premier League that secures a club an extra two-hour ‘grace period’ to get a transfer over the line past the league’s 11pm BST (6pm ET) deadline — to complete the transfer on Tuesday night, but Balogun opted not to proceed with the move and left their Finch Farm training ground without signing.
Everton had agreed a deal with Monaco for Balogun earlier on Tuesday, only for doubts to grow over the move going through as deadline day progressed. The Merseyside team then made an offer to Manchester United for Joshua Zirzkee but saw that rejected, with the Old Trafford side feeling they did not have enough time to find a replacement for their striker.
Everton and Monaco continued in talks over Balogun and the English club remained hopeful of concluding a deal for the player, seeking to renegotiate a lower fixed fee with higher bonuses.
Previously, Monaco sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, stated the initial deal for Balogun would consist of an initial €45million (£38.58m; $52.3m) plus €5million (£4.3m; $5.8m) in potential add-ons had been agreed between the two clubs, while Everton sources had said the deal was worth in the region of £40million ($54m; €46.7m).
Balogun decided to walk away from the deal with Everton (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Everton had been in the market for attacking reinforcements with striker Beto leaving for Fiorentina and winger Iliman Ndiaye joining Manchester City. They previously signed Tyrique George on a permanent deal from Chelsea and secured a return for Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City on deadline day.
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Balogun made global headlines at this summer’s World Cup when his red card suspension was controversially overturned by FIFA following an intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The scandal overshadowed what had been a breakout tournament for the American, who scored twice in the USMNT’s opening win over Paraguay and again in the last-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina prior to his sending off.
Balogun registered 19 goals and added five assists in 43 games for Monaco in 2025-26, his best return since joining the club from Arsenal in 2023. Arsenal retain a 17.5 per cent sell-on clause from that sale.
He came through the north London club’s academy and made 10 first-team appearances before his exit. Balogun enjoyed his breakout season on loan at Ligue 1 club Reims in the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 22 times in 39 appearances, before his move to fellow French club Monaco.
Where does this leave Balogun after an extraordinary summer?
Analysis from senior writer Tom Bogert
What a strange few months for Balogun. From a star turn at the World Cup, to being embroiled in a red card controversy, to being linked with a move to a number of big clubs in Europe… to a deal to Everton falling apart at the final minutes of the English transfer window.
Balogun’s head must be spinning, but he’s currently left in the same place as he was at the end of the last European season: Monaco.
That doesn’t mean it will be that way. The Turkish window remains open and Galatasaray previously held interest this summer. The Saudi window is open as well.
Or will it be a reintegration with Monaco for now until at least January?
Main character summer.
What now for Everton?
Analysis by Everton correspondent Patrick Boyland
Make no mistake, this is a massive blow for Everton. The Merseyside club had already sanctioned the sale of Beto to Fiorentina early on Tuesday and now have just one senior striker, Thierno Barry, on the books.
While others, like young winger George, have had spells playing in a central role, there will be huge pressure on Barry, 23, after a hit-and-miss first season on Merseyside.
Everton end the window short there and at full-back, where the departures of Nathan Patterson (permanent to Torino) and Adam Aznou (loan to Malaga) also leave them short on both sides of defence. Others will almost certainly need to step up to see them through to the January window.
A hugely disappointing end to the window.