U.S. men's national team star Folarin Balogun stated that his $54 million transfer to Everton fell apart because the Premier League club altered the contract terms before he could sign. Balogun was speaking at USMNT camp on Thursday.
"I flew to Everton obviously with a set contract, and then by the time I left, the contract was changed," Balogun explained. "That was just the situation in short. The contract was changed, and then in the end, I didn’t feel comfortable with the signing. So that was literally just the situation."
Reports in September suggested the transfer stalled due to concerns raised during Balogun's medical examination. Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro had previously told reporters that Balogun expressed discomfort with how the club handled the medical process and questioned his future health.
Balogun gained prominence during the summer World Cup, scoring three goals for the U.S. men's national team during their run in the tournament. Earlier in the summer, he was involved in a controversial incident during a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina where he received a red card that was later rescinded.