Everton have agreed a £40m deal to sign United States international Folarin Balogun from Monaco as they seek to reinforce their attack before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
The 25-year-old striker is understood to have emerged as the club’s priority target after uncertainty over a possible return for former forward Richarlison, who has reservations about leaving Tottenham.
Balogun joined Monaco from boyhood club Arsenal in 2023 after a prolific loan spell with Reims, where he scored 22 goals in 39 appearances. He has since found the net 31 times in 91 games for the Ligue 1 side across all competitions.
His form improved markedly towards the end of last season, when he scored 11 goals in 14 matches for Monaco. The forward has also established himself as a regular for the United States, scoring 12 goals in 31 international appearances.
Everton had been exploring a deal for Richarlison, with a £35m offer understood to have been made for the Brazilian. However, personal terms were not agreed with the player, who left Merseyside for Tottenham in 2022.
Tottenham had initially reached an agreement with Everton for Senegal winger Iliman Ndiaye to move to north London, with Richarlison expected to transfer in the opposite direction in a separate deal.
That arrangement collapsed after Richarlison failed to commit to the move, allowing Manchester City to agree a deal worth up to £65m for Ndiaye instead. Everton have now pressed ahead with Balogun, who is set to return to English football after three years in France.
