Deadline Day Double Deal
Folarin Balogun's £40 million move from Monaco to Everton is reportedly on the verge of collapse after a medical issue, a development that has allowed Chelsea to swoop in and agree a deal for his Monaco teammate Lamine Camara.
According to com, Chelsea have agreed to sign Camara for a fixed €55 million (£47 million), with the midfielder signing a six-year deal at Stamford Bridge that includes an option for an additional 12 months. The deal was reportedly personally driven by Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali.
The timing was crucial: in a frantic end to deadline day, the Camara deal was looking all but off, but doubts over Balogun's move to Everton left Monaco sweating over a much-needed sale. Chelsea quickly took advantage of Monaco's precarious position and moved to bolster their midfield ahead of Enzo Fernandez's move to Manchester City, as reported by com.
Balogun's Medical Issue
The Sun reported that Balogun's transfer to Everton is set to collapse after he failed his medical. The US striker was set to join the Toffees in the £40 million deal, but the move is now expected to fall apart after the 25-year-old failed a medical to join the Premier League outfit, according to The Sun.
com similarly reported that Balogun appeared primed to complete a deadline day switch to the Toffees, but an issue spotted at his medical threw the deal into jeopardy. This threw Monaco's deadline day plans into chaos, with the Ligue 1 leaders needing to sell players to balance the books, according to com. The outlet also reported that Monaco had a replacement lined up for Balogun.
Everton's Striker Search
The collapse of the Balogun deal is set to leave Everton scrambling to find a suitable striker before the transfer window deadline shuts at 11pm, as reported by The Sun. The club had already sanctioned the departure of Beto to Fiorentina for around £15 million, a move that now leaves them needing an alternative forward option to play behind Thierno Barry, who has suddenly become their only senior striker, according to The Sun.
Everton had also agreed to sell winger Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City for £65 million and midfielder Tim Iroegbunam to Hull for £22 million, as reported by The Sun. Richarlison had been on their list of targets but is believed to have reservations about returning to the club he left in 2022 to join Tottenham, according to The Sun. However, they had agreed a deal to sign Jack Grealish on a season-long loan for the second season running.
Balogun's Career and Context
Balogun came through Arsenal's academy and made ten first-team appearances for the club, including two in the Premier League, as reported by com. However, it wasn't until the 2022/23 campaign when he truly broke out, scoring 22 goals while on loan at French outfit Reims.
That prompted Monaco to sign him for an initial £25.7 million in August 2023, and he has since netted 31 goals in 91 appearances across all competitions for Monaco, being named their Player of the Season for the 2025/26 campaign, according to com. The Sun reported that Balogun scored 19 goals for Monaco last season.
Balogun had been the centre of controversy at the World Cup when Fifa President Gianni Infantino overturned a ban he received into a suspended ban following a phone call from US President Trump, sparking corruption controversy, as reported by The Sun. com also reported that Balogun was sent off for the United States in the Round of 32 against Bosnia, and that his suspension was overturned following intervention from President Trump.