Folarin Balogun transfer: What to expect from USMNT striker after departing Arsenal for AS Monaco
CBSN
American hotshot leaves Arsenal for Principality after prolific Reims stint
Folarin Balogun is returning to Ligue 1 with AS Monaco after the 22-year-old's successful loan spell with Stade de Reims saw him score 22 domestic goals last season. The Arsenal loanee's form was so impressive that the USMNT moved for him ahead of England and Nigeria and a return to France felt somewhat inevitable given his success in Champagne territory.
Monaco are the Championnat outfit bringing Balogun back to French soccer on a permanent basis for around $43 million on a long-term contract that was announced on Wednesday. As far as matching club with player, it is an almost perfect fit with Les Monegasques, an upgrade on last year's Reims side despite Will Still's important role in Balogun's development.
Stade Louis II is an excellent destination in terms of the Brooklyn-born striker's projected advancement with immediate regular minutes owing to Breel Embolo's unfortunate injury. Kevin Volland has also left Monaco to return to the Bundesliga with popular German side Union Berlin while Wissam Ben Yedder faces rape allegations.