Folarin Balogun has been omitted from Monaco's UEFA Conference League squad list for the league phase following the collapse of his proposed £40 million transfer to Everton. According to reports by ESPN, the 23-year-old forward was also excluded from Monaco's Ligue 1 squad for their match against Paris Saint-Germain after opting out of the deadline-day move to Goodison Park due to concerns over his medical treatment. The French club, currently facing pressure to generate transfer revenue for financial compliance, are now actively seeking to sell the United States international to alternative markets.
Squad exclusion and the collapsed Everton deal
According to reports from ESPN and Sports Mole, Balogun's future at Monaco has been thrown into doubt after his late decision to reject the move to Everton. Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro confirmed that the club is exploring other open transfer markets, which include Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to find a resolution. "We are still waiting for Balo to come back and to sit and discuss and to realise between us what is next," Scuro said. Addressing the failed Everton move, Scuro added: "Today, he is a Monaco player. There is a chance that he stays. On Everton, I was not there. We have to respect his decision. We tried to do the work on the club side. We found solutions."
Financial pressure and Balogun's career block
Monaco's decision to sidelining the forward stems from their pressing need to comply with French financial regulations. Balogun joined Monaco from Arsenal in 2023 for around €30 million, signing a contract until June 2028, following a highly successful loan spell at Reims. However, he has not played a single minute of competitive football this season, falling down the pecking order behind other attacking options. With the main European transfer windows closed, Monaco's hierarchy are working to secure a permanent exit to any remaining viable leagues, with a January transfer remaining the alternative fallback option if a late deal cannot be struck.
