When Folarin Balogun steps onto the training pitch for his one‑on‑one sessions, his mentor, Saul Isaksson‑Hurst, has learned to adopt a flexible approach. While a structured program can be laid out, Balogun – a meticulous and highly analytical athlete – often arrives with his own ideas and objectives.
"He's incredibly serious and driven," Isaksson‑Hurst told Sky Sports. "Sometimes he'll say, 'I want to work on this specific thing.' He's never shy about voicing what he wants to improve. We discuss it, we debate, and we adjust the plan together." "He pushes me just as much as I push him.
It's a privilege to work with him because he always brings that relentless mindset, that intensity. You instantly know you're training with a top‑level player because every drill is executed at 100 percent." This exchange offers a window into the mind of a footballer who has taken charge of his own development. The partnership began after a challenging loan spell at Middlesbrough during Balogun's teenage years at Arsenal. In that stint he managed only three goals in 18 Championship appearances, a modest return that could have defined his early career.
Instead, Balogun refused to let the loan define him. "He wanted to do more, to get better," Isaksson‑Hurst explained. "He was very goal‑oriented and ambitious." Their first sessions together took place that summer, a concentrated period of work in London focused on the attributes of a classic number nine – a poacher with a knack for finding the back of the net. They drilled both‑footed finishing, movement patterns, timing of runs and the subtle art of positioning inside the box.
The payoff was evident when Balogun headed to France on loan at Stade de Reims. There he exploded for 22 goals in 39 matches, a striking improvement that underscored the value of the extra work he was putting in with Isaksson‑Hurst.
At 25, Balogun continues to book regular sessions with his coach during off‑season periods and whenever his club schedule permits, treating each meeting as an opportunity to fine‑tune marginal gains. His dedication has translated into tangible results on the biggest stages. After a controversial red card at the World Cup, Balogun still managed to score three goals in the tournament, showcasing his quality under pressure.
Those performances have reignited Premier League interest, with Everton among the clubs linked to a possible return to English football – a move that would bring him back to the league three years after leaving Arsenal for Monaco, where he has already netted 31 times in 91 appearances. Balogen's career is marked by bold choices.
He stepped out of his comfort zone by moving to France, first on loan at Reims and then permanently with Monaco, and he also switched his international allegiance from England to the United States. "He wants to compete at the highest level on the biggest stage," says Isaksson‑Hurst, who has previously coached academy players and now works with several elite professionals. A return to the Premier League would place Balogun back in the spotlight, but his coach believes the pressure would suit him. "I don't see him struggling.
In fact, I think he'd thrive. That's what he seeks – the challenge, the intensity, the chance to prove himself as one of the world's best number nines." Balogun's World Cup form was a continuation of a prolific spell at Monaco, where he finished the season with 11 goals in 14 games, including a memorable brace against Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League. Yet his path hasn't been without setbacks.
Since his £35 million transfer from Arsenal in 2023, he has faced injury spells and periods when he struggled to cement a starting place. Nevertheless, adversity has been a recurring theme in his story, and he has repeatedly responded by working harder.
Former Arsenal academy staff still recall him as a tireless worker, and his former Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder and assistant Alan Knill were impressed by his mental resilience despite the difficulties he encountered there. "It's part of the game," Isaksson‑Hurst notes. "Those challenges helped him grow and could eventually make him one of the best players in the world." Over several years, Isaksson‑Hurst has watched Balogun's mentality harden and mature.
While the young striker always possessed raw talent and a natural finishing instinct, the coach emphasizes that Balogun has refined his timing, movement, link‑up play and overall footballing intelligence. "From a youngster to a man now, his ambition has always been evident. He reached out to me because he wanted more.
The recent sessions show how focused he is on becoming one of the top number nines globally and proving he can deliver at the highest level." That mindset has kept him on track even when circumstances were unfavorable. Balogun also benefits from being a classic striker – a true fox in the box – a rarity in modern top‑flight football where many teams favor versatile forwards who drift wide. Everton, like many clubs, are in search of a reliable goal‑scorer. "Scoring is the hardest thing in football," Isaksson‑Hurst adds.
"Balogun's ability with both feet and his aerial threat are exceptional. There aren't many pure number nines left. Most are wingers or midfielders masquerading as strikers.
Flo is a natural, a poacher who will punish any mistake, even if you give him half a yard of space. That's what sets him apart." Combined with his relentless ambition, this blend of natural finishing talent and cultivated mental toughness makes Balogun a dangerous prospect for any team seeking a proven goal‑getter.
His journey from a struggling loan spell to a world‑stage performer illustrates how self‑directed improvement, strategic coaching and an unyielding desire to excel can reshape a player's destiny.