Folarin Balogun on the Rock, it’s official! In advanced discussions with the Gunners for several days, AS Monaco has reached a full agreement with the London team for the transfer of the native of New York. The player present in the Principality since Tuesday completed his medical examination without incident. An operation that will bring in around 30 million euros for the reigning English vice-champion (plus bonuses of up to €10 million).
Followed for many months and targeted since the start of the transfer window by the sports management of the Principality club (the ASM had made a first approach by offering around twenty million euros in July, on the sidelines of the Emirates Cup against at Arsenal), the American striker (2 selections, 1 goal) was very courted (Chelsea, Inter Milan or Fulham). But the tenacity of ASM, which was able to count on the support of its president Dmitri Rybolovlev to achieve this coup, helped convince Folarin Balogun to return to Ligue 1.
“AS Monaco is pleased to announce the arrival of striker Folarin Balogun from Arsenal. The American international, 22, has signed up for 5 seasons and is now linked with the Monegasque club until June 2028., specifies the press release from the club to formalize the news. Loaned last season to Stade de Reims, Folarin Balogun was particularly famous, scoring 22 goals and delivering 3 goals in 39 matches in all competitions. A Ligue 1 revelation, the 22-year-old striker had since returned to England where his contract with Arsenal ended on June 30, 2025.
ASM hits hard!
Not being part of Mikel Arteta’s plans for the Gunners, the center forward passed through Middlesbrough therefore finally opted for the Asemist project. Under the leadership of Adi Hütter, new architect of the Principality’s team, Balogun will find a championship he knows perfectly and where he has already proven himself. A real poison for opposing defences, impressive composure in front of goal, quick and capable of going deep, the 1m78 right-hander, who has signed up for five seasons, will thus bring an additional solution to the German technician and a profile complementary to that of Wissam Ben Yedder or Breel Embolo.
With an injured Breel Embolo and a Wissam Ben Yedder, whose performance does not seem to have been affected by legal troubles, AS Monaco is achieving, in any case, a new very nice move on the transfer market. A deal that has undoubtedly been made possible by the numerous sales made over the past year on the transfer window (Disasi, Badiashile, Tchouameni and even Diop). As a reminder, the Monegasque leaders can already boast of having enlisted Denis Zakaria, arrived from Juventus Turin, Mohammed Salisu, defender snatched from Southampton, Wilfried Singo, passed by Torino FC, or even Philipp Köhn , former Red Bull Salzburg goalkeeper.
