EPL: Arsenal agree to sell Folarin Balogun to Monaco for £34m

A medical has been booked for Nigerian-born American footballer, Folarin Balogun, this weekend after Monaco reached a deal to sign him from Arsenal for £34m/$43m.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in senior football whilst on loan from the Emirates at Reims last season, scoring 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances for Will Still’s side.

Balogun also had an eventful term on the international stage, pledging his allegiance to the USA, before making his debut for the Stars and Stripes in June against fierce rivals Mexico.

The striker is now set to leave North London having played in just 10 games for the Gunners, scoring twice during a two-and-a-half-year spell on the fringes of the club’s first team.

It is understood that Arsenal included a hefty sell-on clause in the deal for the forward, meaning the North Londoners will be in line for a significant windfall should the player move on in the future.

It was suggested earlier this month that Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea could enter the race for Balogun, with some reports claiming that the Blues made contact with the Gunners over a potential deal.

Tottenham Hotspur have also been credited with an interest in the American international over the past fortnight, with the Lilywhites looking to bolster their forward line following the departure of Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.

With his return to Ligue 1 with Monaco, Folarin Balogun is expected to form a lethal partnership with Frenchman Wissam Ben Yedder in Monaco’s attack, with Switzerland international Breel Embolo sidelined until next year due to a cruciate ligament injury.

Monaco are currently sitting on top of the Ligue 1 table after earning seven points from their first three matches against Clermont, Strasbourg, and Nantes.

Balogun could make his debut for the club when they host Lens at Stade Louis II Stadium on September 2, when Monaco will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to four matches.