Transfer Centre

Folarin Balogun joins Monaco from Arsenal

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 30 August 2023

Monaco complete the signing of USA international striker Folarin Balogun on a five-year deal from Arsenal, for a fee thought to be worth up to £38m.

Monaco have completed the signing of Folarin Balogun on a five-year deal from Arsenal.

The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a contract that will keep him at the Ligue 1 outfit until 2028, joining for an undisclosed fee thought to be worth around £38m.

The move sees Balogun end a 15-year association with Arsenal, having joined the Gunners as an eight-year-old in 2008.

However, he only made 10 appearances for the senior side following his debut in 2020, and has spent the past season-and-a-half away on loan.

Balogun's most recent loan spell saw him star in Ligue 1 last season as he scored 21 goals in 37 league outings for Reims, and 22 in 39 games across all competitions.

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𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙘𝙤 🔴⚪️#WelcomeBalogun 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/QdAIKcwWd8
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 30, 2023

Only Kylian Mbappe, Alexandre Lacazette and Jonathan David scored more than the USA international in the French top flight last term.

Balogun also spent time away on loan at Middlesbrough during the second half of the 2021-22 campaign, scoring three goals in 20 games for the Championship outfit.

The striker becomes Monaco's fifth, and most expensive, signing of the summer, following Denis Zakaria, Mohammed Salisu, Wilfried Singo and Philipp Kohn through the door.

Les Monegasques have made an unbeaten start to the new Ligue 1 season, taking seven points from the first nine on offer to sit top of the embryonic table.

Balogun could make his debut for his new side when they host Lens on Saturday.