United States men's national team player Folarin Balogun will not be joining Premier League side Everton, as a deal reportedly collapsed in the final hours before the transfer window closed. The transfer reportedly fell apart after Everton sought to renegotiate the terms of the agreement following concerns that emerged during Balogun's medical evaluation, according to The Athletic.
Everton submitted a dealsheet to extend the negotiation period by two hours past the 6 p.m. ET transfer deadline, but Balogun ultimately withdrew from the deal, leaving the club without a new striker.
Reports of the potential transfer had surfaced earlier in the day, with The Athletic stating the initial deal was valued at $52.3 million plus an additional $5.8 million in add-ons. Sources close to Everton indicated the deal was in the range of $54 million.
This dramatic turn of events marks the latest chapter for Balogun this summer. He gained significant attention during the World Cup, where he scored three goals for the U.S. men's national team. He was later involved in a controversial red card incident that was eventually rescinded by FIFA after intervention from President Donald Trump. Balogun acknowledged in an interview following the U.S. team's elimination from the World Cup that the controversy had made matters "difficult."