Everton’s ambitious plans for the current campaign suffered a severe blow on transfer deadline day when their £40 million move for United States international striker Folarin Balogun collapsed after the deadline. The 25-year-old arrived on Merseyside to complete the transfer from Monaco, but concerns emerged during his medical and the structure of the deal was renegotiated to include a lower initial payment and more in add-ons. Everton submitted a deal sheet, but Balogun ultimately changed his mind and walked away from the move shortly after midnight. The collapse leaves manager David Moyes with a significant problem in attack.
The situation was made more difficult by Everton’s earlier sales. The club allowed Iliman Ndiaye to join Manchester City for £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons, Beto to move to Fiorentina for about £15.5 million, Tim Iroegbunam to join Hull City for an initial £15 million, and Nathan Patterson to transfer to Torino for an undisclosed fee. Ndiaye and Beto were among Everton’s important contributors last season, scoring 17 Premier League goals between them, according to available transfer-window analysis.
With those departures completed and Balogun’s transfer falling through, Thierno Barry is Everton’s only recognised senior striker. The club had hoped to bring in Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee on loan, but United rejected the approach.
The collapse also had repercussions for Chelsea. The Blues had agreed a reported £47 million deal with Monaco for midfielder Lamine Camara, but Monaco withdrew from the agreement while attempting to revive the Balogun transfer with Everton. Once Balogun rejected the move, neither Premier League club secured the player it wanted: Everton were left without their striker, while Chelsea missed out on Camara after having already sold Enzo Fernández to Manchester City for £125 million.
Everton will now have to rely on Barry and their other attacking options, including Brennan Johnson, Tyler Dibling, Tyrique George and Jack Grealish, who joined from Manchester City on a season-long loan. These players can contribute from wide areas or in support roles, but they do not fully replace the centre-forward depth Everton had hoped to add.
The failed Balogun move leaves the Friedkin Group and Moyes facing difficult questions about the club’s transfer planning. Everton raised substantial funds through player sales, but the late collapse means that the squad begins the season with a thin supply of recognised strikers. Moyes must manage Barry’s workload, find alternative attacking solutions and wait until January for another opportunity to strengthen the position.
