Folarin Balogun’s transfer to Everton collapses on deadline day

Folarin Balogun was supposed to be Everton’s marquee summer signing. Instead, he’s back at Monaco, and two clubs are left pointing fingers at deadline-day chaos that torpedoed not one but two major transfers. The American international’s proposed €45 million move to Goodison Park fell apart on September 1, just hours before the Premier League transfer window slammed shut at 23:00 BST. What started as a done deal turned into a renegotiation, which turned into Balogun walking away entirely. How a done deal became no deal Monaco and Everton reached an agreement on August 31 for a deal reportedly structured at €45 million fixed plus €5 million in performance-related add-ons, totaling roughly £39 million or about $52 million. Balogun traveled to Merseyside and completed a medical examination on September 1, the final day of the window. That’s when things went sideways. An undisclosed issue surfaced during the medical, prompting Everton to push for renegotiations on the deal structure. The club wanted a lower upfront fee with additional incentives tied to performance. Balogun himself chose not to sign the contract, reportedly citing concerns over what Everton’s medical department had fla...