Folarin Balogun opted to withdraw from his proposed transfer to Everton on the final day of the Premier League transfer window, citing discomfort with signing a long-term contract at the club, according to Thiago Scuro, chief executive of Monaco. The move, which had been anticipated to strengthen Everton’s attacking options, ultimately collapsed amid concerns raised during the striker’s medical examination.
Scuro, who was involved in negotiating the deals, explained that Balogun’s decision came after Everton expressed reservations about his medical results. “The Premier League has a mechanism where you can request one extra hour to finish the paperwork. This was done,” Scuro said at a press conference in Monaco. “I signed the contract, Everton signed the contract. At the last moment, the player decided not to sign. And basically, the allegation of Balogun is that ‘I’m not feeling well by the way the club treated me. I’m not feeling well by the way the medical department of Everton brought doubts about my future or my health. I’m not comfortable to sign a long contract here.’”
The situation was further complicated by related transfer activity involving Monaco and Premier League clubs. Chelsea had made a late attempt to sign Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara following the departure of Enzo Fernández to Manchester City. While Chelsea agreed a £47 million deal for Camara, Monaco ultimately withdrew from that transfer shortly before the deadline. This decision came after Everton sought to renegotiate the terms to sign Balogun, only for Balogun himself to reverse course and return to Monaco.
Everton sources indicated that their medical assessment uncovered an issue not previously disclosed, which contributed to a lower valuation of Balogun and influenced the transfer negotiations. However, the club did not comment in detail on the medical findings or the nature of the concern.
Scuro emphasized that Monaco had no intention of creating conflict with either Premier League club following the breakdown of the transfers. Both deals falling through on deadline day marked a turbulent end to the window for the French side, underscoring the complexities facing clubs navigating late-stage negotiations.
As a result, Balogun remains with Monaco, and the anticipated moves failed to materialize ahead of the transfer deadline, leaving Everton without their targeted signing and Chelsea without Camara.