Everton Agree $54M Deal for USMNT Striker Folarin Balogun

LIVERPOOL, England —

Everton have agreed a deal that could be worth up to £40 million ($54 million) to sign United States international forward Folarin Balogun from Monaco, according to ESPN, the Guardian and the BBC. The move comes just before England's Premier League transfer window closes Tuesday at 11 p.m. local time (6 p.m. ET).

Monaco accepted a base offer of about £35 million ($47.5 million) on Monday, ESPN reported, with the total rising to £40 million if certain add-ons are met. Balogun, 25, was set to travel to Merseyside for a medical on Tuesday, according to ESPN.

A Replacement Lines Up

The deal comes together after Everton sold forward Beto to Italian club Fiorentina for around £15 million, ESPN reported. Everton manager David Moyes had identified Balogun as a top target if Beto departed, and talks accelerated once that sale went through, according to ESPN.

Everton's pursuit of Balogun also complicates their interest in Tottenham forward Richarlison, a former Everton player. The BBC reported that Richarlison has reservations about returning to the club he left in 2022, and Everton's £35 million offer for him has stalled amid competing interest from Turkey. Meanwhile, Everton are set to lose winger Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City, in a deal Sky and the BBC valued at up to £65 million.

Balogun left Arsenal's academy for Monaco in 2023 after loan spells at Middlesbrough and Reims. He was named Monaco's player of the year last season after scoring 13 goals in 30 Ligue 1 appearances, according to the Guardian. Across all competitions for the French club, he has scored 31 goals in 91 matches, the BBC reported. He has 12 goals in 31 appearances for the U.S. men's national team, per the BBC.

A World Cup Controversy

Balogun drew global attention this summer after he was sent off for serious foul play against Bosnia-Herzegovina during the World Cup, an offense that normally carries an automatic suspension. FIFA's disciplinary committee instead suspended his ban for a year, a decision the BBC reported prompted wide criticism after it emerged that President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied FIFA on Balogun's behalf.

The ruling allowed Balogun to start the United States' last 16 loss to Belgium. UEFA, European soccer's governing body, called the decision "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable," according to the BBC. FIFA President Gianni Infantino denied having influence over the disciplinary process, and the head of FIFA's disciplinary committee declined to answer BBC questions about how the decision was made.

Everton were also working to secure loan moves for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish and Sunderland defender Trai Hume before Tuesday's deadline, according to the Guardian.