
A loan move proved decisive: a promising youngster leaves his parent club for a hefty transfer fee.
French outlet RMC Sport reported on Friday (July 25) that “Paulin Balogun (22) is heading to AS Monaco. The transfer fee is 45 million euros (approximately KRW 643 million). He will continue his career in the French Ligue 1.”
Arsenal had high hopes for the new striker. He can play in the center or on the flanks. Balogun made his first-team debut as a teenager in 2020. In 10 appearances for Arsenal, he scored two goals and provided one assist.
His form exploded in the 2022-23 season. After a loan move to Reims in Ligue 1, Balogun became a key goal scorer for the team. He scored 21 goals in 37 games. He was the fourth-leading scorer in the French league that season.
After his breakout season at Rennes, Balogun returned to his original club, Arsenal. However, it’s unlikely to be easy for him to get a starting spot. The Gunners have a strong attacking lineup that includes Eddie Nketiah (24), Kai Havertz (24), and Gabriel Jesus (26), who is out injured.
Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League (PL) and Inter Milan of Italy’s Serie A have both expressed interest in signing Balogun, according to a report by Football London. Tottenham are looking for a replacement for 스포츠토토 Harry Kane (30, Bayern Munich). Inter bolstered their attack with the signing of Marko Arnautovic, 34.
Monaco won the transfer battle: according to RMC Sport, Monaco will pay Arsenal €45 million for the player. Arsenal had two years left on Balogun’s contract. Monaco will sign Balogun, who is still in his early 20s, to a five-year contract.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are looking to add a striker in the winter transfer window. They are pursuing the signing of Brentford’s Ivan Toney, 26. The striker finished third in the Premier League in goals in the 2022-23 season. He is currently serving an eight-month ban for a betting violation. He won’t be eligible to play until mid-January next year.