When Folarin Balogun shows up for his one‑on‑one training sessions, his coach Saul Isaksson‑Hurst has learned to adapt his approach. While the coach can present a meticulously prepared programme, Balogun – a highly driven and analytical player – often arrives with his own ideas about what he wants to work on.
"He’s incredibly serious and very motivated," Isaksson‑Hurst told Sky Sports. "Sometimes he’ll walk in and say, ‘I want to focus on this particular skill.’ He isn’t shy about voicing his preferences.
We usually have a back‑and‑forth discussion about it. "He pushes me as much as I push him. It’s a pleasure to work with him because he brings that relentless mentality and intensity.
You instantly know you’re training with a top‑level talent because everything is done at 100 percent." This exchange offers a glimpse into the mindset of a striker who has taken charge of his own development, a habit that began when he sought out Isaksson‑Hurst after a challenging loan spell at Middlesbrough during his teenage years at Arsenal. Balogun returned from that loan having found the net only three times in 18 Championship appearances. Rather than allowing the experience to define him, he resolved to improve. "He wanted more.
He wanted to get better," the coach explained. "He’s a very goal‑oriented, aspirational type of player." Their first collaborative sessions took place that summer. "We ran an intensive few weeks of work in London, concentrating on his profile as a number nine – a fox in the box with a natural knack for finishing. We looked at both‑footed shooting, movement patterns, timing of runs and similar nuances." Balogun’s subsequent loan to Stade de Reims proved the payoff of that extra effort.
In France he struck 22 goals in 39 matches, a prolific return that underlined how the additional, personalised work had sharpened his instincts. Now 25, he continues to book regular sessions with Isaksson‑Hurst during off‑season periods and whenever his club schedule permits. His dedication has produced tangible results.
After a red card that thrust him into a media storm at the World Cup, Balogun still managed to net three goals in the tournament, reaffirming his quality on the biggest stage. Those performances have sparked speculation about a return to the Premier League, with Everton among the clubs linked to him three years after his move from Arsenal to Monaco, where he has tallied 31 goals in 91 appearances.
Balogun’s career is characterised by bold choices. He stepped out of his comfort zone by moving to France on loan, later committing to a permanent switch, and he also changed his international allegiance from England to the United States. "He just wants to play at the highest level possible, on the biggest stage," says Isaksson‑Hurst, who has previously coached at academy level and now works with several elite players. A Premier League comeback would thrust him back into the spotlight, but his coach believes the pressure would suit him.
"I don’t see him struggling under that pressure. In fact, I think he would thrive. That’s exactly what he looks for – he wants the challenge, and he constantly seeks marginal gains by doing the extra work needed to become the best striker he can be." Balogun’s recent form at Monaco mirrors his World Cup exploits.
He finished the season with 11 goals in 14 league games, a run sparked by a brace against Paris Saint‑Germain in the Champions League in February. Yet his journey has not been without setbacks.
After his £35 million transfer from Arsenal in 2023, he has faced injury spells and periods where he struggled to cement a regular starting place. Nevertheless, adversity is a familiar companion; he has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to bounce back. Former Arsenal academy staff still recall him as a tireless worker, while at Middlesbrough his then‑manager Chris Wilder and assistant Alan Knill were impressed by his mental resilience despite the difficulties he encountered.
"It’s part of the game," Isaksson‑Hurst notes. "He needed those challenges to develop, and hopefully he will become one of the world’s best players." Over several years, the coach has observed a hardening of Balogun’s mentality, which he describes as the most striking element of the striker’s evolution. "He always had raw talent and was a natural finisher.
He’s refined that skill and also improved his timing, movement, the way he arrives in the box and his link‑up play." "Watching him grow from a young hopeful into a mature professional, his ambition has always stood out. He contacted me initially because he wanted to do more.
In our most recent block of sessions, his focus and seriousness about becoming one of the world’s elite number nines were crystal clear. He wants to prove he can perform at the highest level." That mindset has kept him on track even when circumstances turned difficult. As an out‑and‑out striker who thrives inside the opponent’s penalty area, he offers a profile that is increasingly rare in modern top‑flight football, where many ‘number nines’ are actually converted wingers or midfielders. Everton, like several other clubs, are in need of a reliable goal scorer.
"Scoring is the hardest thing to do in football," Isaksson‑Hurst adds. "Balogun’s ability with both feet and his aerial prowess is exceptional.
There aren’t many true number nines left. "Many players labelled as nines are actually sevens or 11s playing out of position.
Flo is a natural, a fox in the box who can finish with either foot. Give him half a yard and he’ll punish you. That’s what sets him apart." When you combine that natural finishing talent with a relentless, ambitious mindset, you get a dangerous combination for any defence. Balogun’s journey demonstrates how self‑directed improvement, strategic coaching, and a willingness to embrace challenges can propel a talented youngster into the ranks of elite strikers.