When Folarin Balogun shows up for his one‑on‑one training sessions, his coach Saul Isaksson‑Hurst has learned to adapt his approach. While a structured program can be laid out, Balogun—an intensely analytical player—frequently arrives with his own ideas about what he wants to work on. "He’s incredibly serious and driven," Isaksson‑Hurst told Sky Sports. "Sometimes he’ll walk in and say, ‘I want to focus on this.’ He’s not shy about voicing his priorities.
We discuss it, we bounce ideas off each other." "He challenges me just as much as I try to challenge him. It’s a privilege to work with him because he brings that relentless mentality and intensity. You instantly know you’re training with a top‑level talent because he gives 100% every time." This exchange offers a glimpse into the mindset of a striker who has taken charge of his own development. The partnership began after a tough loan spell at Middlesbrough when Balogun was still a teenager at Arsenal.
During that stint he managed only three goals in 18 Championship appearances, a disappointment that could have defined his early career. Instead, he resolved to improve. "He wanted more.
He wanted to get better," Isaksson‑Hurst explained. "He’s a very goal‑oriented and ambitious type of player." Their first meetings took place that summer, consisting of an intensive week‑long camp in London. The focus was on honing the attributes of a classic number nine – a poacher who can finish with both feet, time his runs perfectly, and exploit space in the box.
They drilled movement patterns, shooting technique, and positional awareness, tailoring every drill to Balogun’s natural finishing instincts. Balogun’s subsequent loan to Stade de Reims proved the payoff of that extra work. In France he struck 22 times in 39 games, a prolific return that highlighted how the extra sessions had sharpened his instincts and confidence. At 25, he continues to book regular sessions with Isaksson‑Hurst, whether during the off‑season or in breaks between club commitments.
His dedication has begun to reap tangible rewards. After a controversial red card at the World Cup, Balogun still managed to net three goals in the tournament, demonstrating that his talent translates to the biggest stages.
Those performances have sparked renewed Premier League interest, with Everton reportedly keen to bring him back to England three years after his departure from Arsenal for Monaco, where he has already recorded 31 goals in 91 appearances. Balogun’s career narrative is one of bold, sometimes unconventional choices.
He left the comfort of the English system to test himself in Ligue 1, first on loan at Reims and then permanently with Monaco. He also switched his international allegiance from England to the United States, a move that reflects his willingness to pursue opportunities that align with his personal ambitions. "He just wants to compete at the highest level, on the biggest stage possible," says Isaksson‑Hurst, who has previously worked with a number of elite players after a stint as an academy coach.
A return to the Premier League would thrust Balogun back into the spotlight, but his coach believes the striker thrives under pressure. "I don’t see him struggling with that pressure. In fact, I think he’ll excel. He seeks it out.
That’s why he adds extra work, chasing marginal gains, trying to become the best version of himself." Balogun’s World Cup form was a continuation of an impressive run at Monaco, where he finished the season with 11 goals in 14 league games, including a brace against Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League. Yet his journey has not been without setbacks.
Since his £35 million transfer from Arsenal in 2023, he has dealt with injuries and periods where he struggled to cement a regular starting place. Nevertheless, a pattern of resilience runs through his story.
Former Arsenal academy staff recall him as a tireless worker, while at Middlesbrough his determination left a strong impression on manager Chris Wilder and assistant Alan Knill, who praised his mental strength despite the challenges he faced there. "It’s part of the game," Isaksson‑Hurst remarks. "Those challenges helped him grow and, hopefully, will push him toward becoming one of the world’s best players." Over the years, the coach has witnessed Balogun’s mentality harden and mature.
He describes this mental evolution as the most striking element of the striker’s development. "He always had raw talent, a natural finishing ability.
He’s refined that, but he’s also added other facets—timing, movement, link‑up play, the way he arrives in the box. Watching him evolve from a young hopeful to a confident professional, his ambition has always been evident. He reached out to me because he wanted more." "In our recent sessions, his focus and seriousness were crystal clear.
He wants to be one of the best number nines in world football and is willing to put in the work to prove it at the highest level." That mindset has kept him on track even when circumstances turned difficult. Balogun benefits from being a classic ‘fox in the box’—a pure striker who thrives inside the opponent’s penalty area, a profile that is increasingly rare in modern, fluid attacking systems. Everton’s interest underscores a broader need for reliable goal‑scorers.
As Isaksson‑Hurst notes, "Scoring is the hardest thing to do in football. Balogun’s ability with both feet and his aerial prowess set him apart, especially as true number nines become scarce." "Many forwards labeled as number nines are actually wingers or attacking midfielders playing out of position. Flo is a genuine poacher, a natural finisher.
Give him half a yard and he’ll punish you. That’s what differentiates him from the rest." When combined with his relentless ambition, this blend of natural talent and cultivated mentality makes Balogun a dangerous prospect for any club seeking a prolific striker. His journey—from a struggling loan spell to World Cup heroics and a potential Premier League return—illustrates how self‑driven improvement, strategic coaching, and a willingness to step out of comfort zones can forge a path to the top of the game.