Balogun Walks Away: Everton's £40m Deadline Day Collapse Leaves Chelsea Furious and Toffees Strikerless

Key points

• Balogun arrived in Merseyside for a medical but ultimately walked away from the deal after midnight, despite Everton submitting a deal sheet.
• The collapse left Everton with only Thierno Barry as a recognized striker for the first half of the season.
• Monaco withdrew from Chelsea's deal for Lamine Camara to secure the Balogun sale, leaving Chelsea without a replacement for Enzo Fernandez.
• Everton had previously sold Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City for £65m and Beto to Fiorentina for £15.5m to fund the Balogun pursuit.
• Chelsea accepted the collapse of the Camara deal out of good faith, despite having the option to withdraw from the Fernandez sale.

Background

Everton had been seeking to replace Beto, who moved to Fiorentina, and Iliman Ndiaye, who joined Manchester City. The club had previously attempted to sign Richarlison from Tottenham, but personal terms were not agreed. Balogun, who scored 13 goals for Monaco last season and three at the World Cup, was the primary target to bolster the attack. The World Cup also saw Balogun involved in a disciplinary controversy where his ban was suspended, a decision criticized by UEFA and linked to lobbying by US officials.

How outlets are covering it

Sky Sports and The Guardian emphasize the 'change of heart' by Balogun as the primary cause of the collapse, noting that Everton had renegotiated terms with Monaco to lower the upfront fee. The Guardian highlights the 'shambolic' end to the window for Everton, including failed bids for Joshua Zirkzee and Tammy Abraham. BBC Sport provides background on the initial £40m agreement and the failed Richarlison deal. Bleacher Report cites The Athletic's David Ornstein, confirming that Balogun decided against the move after the medical issues and renegotiation. All sources agree that the collapse left Everton with only one striker and left Chelsea without a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, though Sky Sports and The Guardian note Chelsea's fury at Monaco's behavior in prioritizing the Balogun sale over the Camara deal.

Why it matters

The collapse leaves Everton with a significantly weakened attack for the first half of the season, relying on Thierno Barry and the loan return of Jack Grealish. It also highlights the risks of late deadline-day deals, as Chelsea is left without a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who moved to Manchester City for £125m. The incident has drawn criticism for Monaco's conduct in renegotiating deals and prioritizing one sale over another, potentially affecting future transfer negotiations and club relationships.

What to watch

Everton will need to assess their options for the January transfer window to address their striker shortage. Chelsea may need to revisit their search for a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, potentially looking at other targets or internal options. Monaco may face scrutiny over their conduct in the transfer market, and Balogun will remain at Monaco for the time being, potentially facing further scrutiny over his decision to walk away from the deal.