Transfer was 'out of my hands' claims ex-Arsenal striker

Suraj Radia

• 13 Oct 2023 13:51 BST
• 4 min read

Former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has revealed his exit from his boyhood club this summer was ‘out of his hands’ and ‘wasn’t something he could control’.

Balogun had a successful loan spell at Reims last season, scoring 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 games before making a permanent return to France with Monaco in August for an initial fee of €30 million.

The 22-year-old was into the final two years of his contract at the Emirates and had reportedly made it clear that he wasn’t looking to go back out on loan and was seeking first team football, be it at Arsenal or another club.

NO REGRETS: Balogun reveals 'easy decision' to turn down transfer to London rivals

Regular opportunities was not something Mikel Arteta could guarantee Balogun and the American forward admitted his manager ‘didn’t say much’ upon his return from loan, although conversations between the pair were ‘good’.

"He [Arteta] 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 told ESPN.

"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.

"It [his future up in the air] wasn't something that made me feel anxious, it was just more a case of seeing what wanted to be done," he added. "It was out of my hands, that's how I felt. It wasn't something I could control.”

Balogun leaves Arsenal wondering about missed opportunities

Balogun has had a bright start to his career at Monaco, scoring three times in his opening five games, prompting regrets from some Arsenal supporters at what could have been.

The youngster came through the academy with the Gunners but only made two Premier League appearances before being loaned out, leaving Arsenal with just Gabriel Jesus and fellow Hale End graduate Eddie Nketiah as Arteta’s only striking options, with the pair having scored just three times combined this season.

“Me coming back in a preseason, it was just more about me seeing whether I fit into his plans and seeing if I can continue to play some games,” Balogun continued.

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"The only thing I could do was just turn up to train and work hard. So I did that. And then after training, I enjoyed being back in London. I saw my friends, caught up with my family."