Balogun Says No: USMNT Striker Rejects Everton Move at the Last Minute

What looked like a completed transfer for Folarin Balogun turned into one of the most dramatic stories of transfer deadline day.

The USMNT striker was in Liverpool, had completed his medical and was preparing to sign for Everton after the Premier League club reached an agreement with AS Monaco. But the deal ultimately collapsed at the final moment, with Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro revealing that Balogun himself decided not to sign after becoming uncomfortable with the way Everton handled concerns raised during his medical.

Speaking to Get French Football News on Wednesday, Scuro provided a detailed account of the events that unfolded during the final hours of the transfer window.

According to the Monaco CEO, the club had already reached a clear agreement with Everton for Balogun to leave the French side.

“Balogun flew yesterday morning to complete his medical and sign a contract,” Scuro explained.

Scuro said the concerns surprised both Monaco’s medical staff and the player’s own medical team, who did not believe there was an issue that should prevent the transfer from going ahead.

The clubs spent the following hours reviewing the assessments, consulting additional doctors and examining the scans.

Scuro said Everton ultimately concluded that there was no medical problem preventing them from completing the transfer.

“I’m not feeling comfortable with the way the club treated me,” was the position Scuro attributed to Balogun.

The Monaco CEO said Balogun also felt uneasy about the doubts that had been raised regarding his future or his health, despite Monaco and the player’s personal medical team believing there was no underlying problem.

Rather than completing a move worth around £40 million, Balogun returned to Monaco after the deal fell apart in the final moments of the transfer window.

Scuro stressed that the decision was respected by the club.

“When ‘Balo’ mentioned to us this feeling that he was not comfortable, he didn’t want to sign, we didn’t see ourselves in a position to push him,” he said.

Balogun’s move was also connected to another major deadline-day saga involving Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara and Chelsea. Monaco had been prepared to sell Balogun while keeping Camara, but the collapse of the Everton deal ultimately affected the club’s ability to complete Camara’s move to London as well.

For Balogun, however, the immediate consequence is much simpler: he remains a Monaco player after choosing not to sign with Everton.

The situation also leaves questions over what comes next for the American forward. Scuro said Monaco still has discussions open with clubs in markets where the transfer window remains open, meaning another opportunity could potentially emerge.

For now, though, a move that appeared to be completed ended with Balogun making the final decision himself — just minutes before the window closed.