Folarin Balogun’s club situation has finally been settled as it was announced on Wednesday that he signed with Ligue 1 side AS Monaco from Arsenal in the English Premier League.
The deal has seen the forward sign a five-year contract with the Principality after both teams agreed to a transfer fee around $43.6 million.
Balogun, who had been at Arsenal since he was eight years old, was sent out on loan on two occasions by the Londoners. His first loan came in the latter half of the 2021-2022 English season when he was sent to the EFL Championship to play for Middlesbrough. He would go on to make 18 appearances and score three goals.
However, the 22-year-old made a breakthrough in the past season as he was sent out on loan to Reims in Ligue 1. There he would score 21 goals in 37 appearances, finishing tied for fourth place on the goal-scoring list.
With Gunners head coach Mikel Arteta preferring Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah as his options at striker, that left Balogun no choice but to find a new club. Monaco appears to be the perfect landing spot for him as he fills a void left open by the injured Breel Embolo.
Balogun could be immediately inserted into the starting eleven this weekend when Monaco welcomes Lens to the Stade Louis II.
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