Everton's pursuit of Monaco forward Folarin Balogun collapsed after the striker had a change of heart, a development that also derailed Chelsea's attempt to sign Lamine Camara. Balogun flew to Merseyside on deadline day to finalise a £40 million move, but concerns surfaced during his medical examination, casting doubt on the completion of the deal. In response, Monaco shifted its focus to midfielder Camara, but Everton counter‑offered in an effort to keep Balogun's transfer alive. Despite an existing agreement for Camara to join Chelsea, Monaco pulled the plug as the 11 p.m.
transfer deadline elapsed, leaving the Blues irate. Chelsea, meanwhile, had the option to abandon their £125 million bid for Enzo Fernández in order to facilitate a sale to Manchester City, but they chose to honour the agreement out of principle.
After midnight on Wednesday, news broke that Balogun had decided against joining Everton, walking away from the contract and further aggravating both Monaco and Chelsea. Balogun's turbulent 2026 season continues. The American international, who was recently at the centre of a World Cup red‑card controversy involving former President Donald Trump, now faces another setback in his career.
Everton are left with only one recognised senior striker – Thierno Barry – until the January window, after Beto departed for Fiorentina and a loan request for Joshua Zirkzee from Manchester United was rejected. The club's attacking depth was also hit by Iliman Ndiaye's move to Manchester City, though they did secure Jack Grealish on a fresh loan deal. The sequence of events can be summarised as follows: Everton agreed a fee with Monaco for Balogun, the player arrived for a medical, but doubts emerged; Chelsea had multiple bids rejected by Monaco for Camara and were forced to consider alternative targets; Everton made a loan bid for Zirkzee, which United turned down; Chelsea eventually struck a deal with Monaco for Camara, but that agreement collapsed when Monaco withdrew, reigniting the Balogun saga.
After a deal sheet was submitted, Balogun reversed his decision and walked away. Sky Sports' Vinny O'Connor criticised Everton's handling of the deadline‑day market, questioning how the club allowed its strike force to be halved despite having three years left on Ndiaye's contract. He highlighted the premature sale of Beto, the failed pursuit of Zirkzee, and the loss of Ndiaye – a player whose £65 million fee was deemed insufficient by many supporters. O'Connor also mentioned other missed opportunities, such as the abandoned Kenny Tete move and the club's indecision regarding a potential £40 million offer for Harrison Armstrong from Nottingham Forest.
The pundit further noted that Everton have a few bright spots amid the chaos: Ainsley Maitland‑Niles offers versatile cover at full‑back, Jack Grealish returns on loan, and youngsters like Hayden Hackney and Christian Nørgaard could provide valuable contributions. The swap that sent Dwight McNeil to Crystal Palace in exchange for Brennan Johnson was praised as a sensible deal, given McNeil's contract was expiring.
However, O'Connor warned that without a proven striker and a reliable right‑back, manager David Moyes will have to rely on Thierno Barry as the sole recognised forward until at least January, making a realistic European challenge unlikely. Peter Smith added that Balogun entered the summer with personal ambitions to join one of Europe's elite clubs. After a strong finish to the previous season and a headline‑grabbing performance at the World Cup – where he was celebrated as a new hero in the United States – his profile was soaring.
Monaco, aware that Balogun had only two years left on his contract, hoped to cash in. Yet the red‑card incident and the subsequent political controversy involving President Trump complicated his narrative. Although the player was not at fault for the surrounding storm, he was forced to navigate the fallout.
Following the tournament, despite changing agents, Balogun did not receive offers from the continent's biggest teams. A move to Everton, while respectable, did not align with his original summer aspirations.
Having enjoyed Champions League football at Monaco, the lure of the Premier League was less compelling for the former Arsenal academy graduate, even though several English clubs had shown interest. Balogun's decision to reject Everton is his own, and it will have repercussions for his career trajectory.
The summer has already produced two dramatic twists involving the striker, and his next move remains uncertain. Everton, on the other hand, must now regroup, reinforce their attacking options, and hope that the remaining players can deliver a respectable season despite the chaotic end to the transfer window.