USMNT's Balogun makes season debut for Monaco after failed transfer

United States striker Folarin Balogun made his first appearance of the season for AS Monaco in its 2-1 win over Lens on Friday.

It was Balogun's first outing since a proposed transfer to Premier League side Everton dramatically broke down in the final hours of the transfer window at the start of this month.

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The 25-year-old came off the substitutes' bench in the 76th minute as Monaco remained unbeaten at the top of Ligue 1.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Balogun's future appeared elsewhere. Terms had been agreed between Monaco and Everton, as well as with the player, but questions raised by Everton about his medical saw Balogun pull the plug on the deal.

Despite Monaco subsequently saying that it would continue to explore a possible move for Balogun to a league where the transfer window remained open, he now looks set to stay put, at least until the transfer window reopens across much of Europe in January.

Balogun, who had also been battling a minor injury, had not played a competitive game since his controversial end to the 2026 World Cup.

The former Arsenal forward took the field in the U.S. men's national team's round-of-16 loss to Belgium after a one-game suspension for a red card in the previous game was surprisingly overturned by FIFA, with U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledging that he made a personal appeal to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.

Balogun, who scored three goals at the World Cup, was not named this week in coach Mauricio Pochettino's first USMNT roster since the tournament.

Monaco, meanwhile, has continued its impressive start to the season under new coach Filipe Luis.

Paris Brunner put Monaco ahead in the 32nd minute on Friday, but Matthieu Udol equalized in the 57th. Jonathan Gradit then scored an own goal in the 84th.

Brunner is still awaiting a likely sanction for a throat-slitting gesture during a goal celebration last weekend.

Lens coach Dino Toppmöller was dismissed in the week after just six games in charge.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.