Arsenal transfer clause for Florian Balogun revealed ahead of £43m move | OneFootball

Former Arsenal striker is turning heads at the World Cup

Arsenal are set to be handed a welcome transfer windfall as former player Folarin Balogun places himself at the center of a summer race for his signature.

Balogun is attracting plenty of attention by leading the line for co-hosts USA at the World Cup, and he is now reportedly ready to move on from Monaco after scoring 19 goals in 43 games last season.

The 24-year-old netted a brace in United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay in their opening game, and came close to adding to his tally in their second game, against Australia.

Balogun become just the second American to score twice in a World Cup match - ironically Bert Patenaude was first to achieve the feat when he scored all three goals in a 3-0 win over Paraguay in 1930.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Balogun was also eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents, as well as England having grown up in London.

In fact, he represented England at U21 level, scoring seven goals in 13 appearances but in March 2023, Balogun made the decision to switch his international allegiance from England to USA.

FIFA approved the striker’s application a few months before he left Arsenal on a permanent transfer, signing fo Monaco following an impressive loan spell at Reims during the 2022-23 campaign.

Folarin Balogun was an Arsenal player until the summer of 2023

Balogun has since detailed the circumstances behind his exit from Arsenal, citing he was told that Mikel Arteta was not behind the decision to move him on.

"He didn't really say much, he just said that when I came back he just said well done, and he encouraged me to keep going,” Balogun explained to ESPN.

“Then me coming back in a pre-season, it was just more about me seeing whether I fit into his plans and seeing if I can continue to play some games.

“He said that he would try to get me involved as best as he could, but of course he also told me that the people higher up were making decisions on me and seeing what would be best for me.

“So the conversations between me and him were good, but it was more about the club, what they wanted to do.”

Arsenal transfer clause for Balogun revealed

Arsenal did not insert a buy-back clause in the deal, understood to be worth €40million (£34.2million), taking Balogun to Monaco in the summer of 2023.

However, the Gunners did include a sell-on clause which will see them bank 17.5 per cent of any future transfer should the USMNT striker be sold by the French club for a fee before his contract expires.

The Athletic report that Balogun is now ready to search for pastures new, and Monaco are prepared to cash in with an asking price set at €50m (£43m).