Why Everton Must Forget £40m Folarin Balogun January Transfer
David Moyes knew what he was signing up for when he returned to Everton, and missing out on Folarin Balogun wouldn’t have been a new experience. The Toffees’ boss lamented his luck last year when trying to rebuild a squad that had been decimated by loan players returning to their clubs and others leaving at …
Everton manager David Moyes has expressed regret over missing out on signing Folarin Balogun during the January transfer window. Last season, Moyes lamented his luck in rebuilding a weakened squad, which saw loan players return to their clubs and others leaving at the end of their contracts. The 2026 summer experienced a Groundhog Day feeling, but the signing of Jack Grealish provided a much-needed boost.
Despite starting the season with the smallest squad in the league, Everton has remained unbeaten, with three wins and three draws. However, the question remains whether they should pursue Balogun again in January to help them secure a European spot. Balogun had agreed to a £40m transfer, only for it to collapse on deadline day. The USA international stayed at Monaco, potentially due to his justified satisfaction at sitting atop Ligue 1.
When asked about his future in the Premier League, Balogun admitted that a return was "potentially" on the table. However, he emphasized that Everton's focus should be on how they finish their current campaign. Balogun has featured only 14 minutes worth of action this season and would likely command a high salary, making him an expensive addition to an already tight budget.
Moyes instead suggests looking to tier-two leagues like the Eredivisie, Belgian Pro League, or stepping down from La Liga or Bundesliga to find the next Braiden Graham, a talented young player who can provide competition and loan opportunities for the Everton striker.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
