Harry Diamond 02/09/2026 11comments  |  Jump to last

(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

AS Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro has revealed that Folarin Balogun opted against signing for Everton due to his treatment in Liverpool.

Balogun's proposed move to Everton collapsed at the 11th hour on deadline day, after the US international performed a U-turn on his decision to move to Merseyside.

Everton had a deal in place to sign the 25-year-old for a fee of around £38.5m, though the deal stalled amid concerns over the player's medical.

After news broke that Balogun had failed a medical, it was later confirmed the forward had decided against completing the transfer.

Monaco chief executive Scuro has now opened up on the failed move, and the French side's decision to pull the plug on Chelsea's move for midfielder Lamine Camara.

"During the day, we had a clear agreement for Balogun to go to Everton. Balogun flew yesterday morning to go for medicals and sign a contract. Our plan worked very well in this moment in terms of revenue generation, squad planning, player transfers," Scuro told a press conference, reported by Get Football News France.

"Thilo (Kehrer) going, as announced, opened the space in the salary that we needed with the DNCG (French football’s financial watchdog). Balogun, besides the salary, was also an important source of income for the club, which would help us also to balance the season."

Scuro continued that it was 'normal' for clubs to get a second opinion on concerning medicals, but said the reservations from Everton 'made no sense'.

"Balogun was in Liverpool undergoing his medical. Everything was going pretty well. Around 7 p., we were contacted by Everton, raising questions about Balogun’s medical, which, for our medical staff, as well as for the player’s personal medical staff, made no sense at all."

“Made no sense at all”: Scuro says Everton’s medical concerns led Balogun to say “I’m not comfortable signing a long contract”

He added that Balogun was behind the transfer's collapse, as the forward was 'not comfortable' signing a long contract amid his treatment by Everton.

"Five minutes to close the transfer window there, for us to finish all the paperwork between Monaco and Everton and ‘Balo’. I signed the contract. Everton signed the contract.

"At the last moment, the players decided not to sign. And basically, Balogun’s allegation is that I’m not feeling well because of the way the club treated me. I’m not feeling well because Everton’s medical department raised doubts about my future or my health. I have nothing (no health problem), so I’m not comfortable signing a long contract here. And that’s the way we finish our transfer window."

 

 

Reader Comments (11)

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Mark Ryan
1 Posted 02/09/2026 at 14:59:04
Sounds like a prick. Good riddance.

We clearly were getting desperate to leave this until the last day. We are amateurs and whoever oversees our transfers should have a good look at what went wrong and learn from this or get another job.
Andrew Ellams
2 Posted 02/09/2026 at 15:07:13
How so Mark? His job is to look after number 1 not bend over for Everton.
Michael Kenrick
3 Posted 02/09/2026 at 15:07:40
All this over an ingrowing toenail?

Refreshing to at least hear someone try to explain from the inside all the shenanigans that go on.

I can't see Kinnear attempting to be so candid... although he might have to now this guy has shown him up.
Bob Kerr
4 Posted 02/09/2026 at 15:08:44
Mandy Rice-Davies's most famous quote of "Well he would say that, wouldn't he?" comes to mind.
Scott Robinson
5 Posted 02/09/2026 at 15:27:17
Sounds like the player was getting defensive over this health, blaming others when in fact he knew what was going on.
Mark Ryan
6 Posted 02/09/2026 at 15:33:29
He's been playing with an injury since the world cup and flies across Europe to have a medical knowing he has an injury. Sits tight and says nowt until he is challenged. We then try to renegotiate around his appearances etc and he knows he's been rumbled and realising his injury is now revealed walks out the door claiming " I feel upset by your treatment if me. He sounds like a prick Andrew and he can look after number one all he likes. We've dodged a bullet but I'll reiterate my point. We are amateur when it comes to transfers and this is why we end up with a begging bowl on deadline day. I mean Zirkzee, I ask you ? Really ? Perhaps Balogun feels he dodged a bullet by not signing
Eric Myles
7 Posted 02/09/2026 at 15:34:44
Is that all it was MK? An ingrowing toenail? Really?
Kunal Desai
8 Posted 02/09/2026 at 15:35:28
Why were we looking to do this deal on deadline day? Get your man in signed and sealed and then let Beto go.

TFG et all can all do one. Never trusted this lot from the outset. No interest in this club other than pure profit, you can argue all you want.it's all about profit. Armstrong was clearly the case.

Never set foot in the ground. Horrible, horrible spinelsss cretins.
Christy Ring
9 Posted 02/09/2026 at 15:38:23
I disagree, if he was injured, then you try and bring in Zirkzee/ Abraham, they say no, then you renegotiate the deal, and get a lesser fee, Balogun there listening to this, you couldn't blame him.
Dave Roberts
10 Posted 02/09/2026 at 15:39:45
The fact is Everton did sign the paperwork after suitable adjustments were made as did Monaco and the player. So at that point the deal was up and running. If it's the case that what upset Balogun was learning that Everton had been trying other prospects while he was in the lounge ( presumably) is a definitely out of order. Imagine you're at a job interview, you complete it only to find you're offered the job only after the employer has fished around for somebody else and failed. Fucking disgraceful. If that really was an issue ( and we may never know the truth) it was a fucking disgrace and I don't blame him for walking out. There's still no sign of any kind of statement on Everton FC. Com. Unsurprisingly I might say.
Kevin Molloy
11 Posted 02/09/2026 at 15:41:51
Kunal, they see themselves as ace negotiators, who have perfected the art of 'walking away' in order to secure the best possible deal. They've been patting themselves on the back all summer that they got little Middlesborough to only take £15m up front, and the rest in bits. These are the sort of cheapskate bellends we are dealing with. And their high risk strategy was bound to get called out at some stage, and now it has, to all of our detriment.

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