Conference League omission
Folarin Balogun has been omitted from AS Monaco’s squad for the UEFA Europa Conference League. The Ligue 1 club unveiled its European list on Thursday, and the United States international was a notable absentee. The omission comes just days after his proposed transfer to Everton collapsed on transfer deadline day, casting fresh doubt over where he will play his football this season. The decision means Balogun will not feature in Monaco’s continental fixtures while his fitness and future remain unclear.
Manager Filipe Luís had already confirmed ahead of Friday night’s fixture that Balogun would miss the Ligue 1 encounter with Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian cited a fitness issue and admitted he could not give a timeline for the striker’s return. Without a clear date for his comeback, that injury concern, layered on top of persistent uncertainty over his future, appears to have influenced the decision to leave him off the Conference League register.
What next for Balogun?
Although a move to Everton is no longer possible after their window shut, Balogun has not been completely shut off from a transfer in the coming weeks. The windows in Turkiye and Saudi Arabia remain open, offering potential escape routes should Monaco agree to a deal. Yet Nice-Matin have reported that the forward is likely to remain at the Stade Louis II until at least the winter window.
Balogun returned to training with his team-mates on Thursday, yet he has not been included in the matchday squad for the visit of PSG. That indicates his reintegration into competitive action is not imminent. In the meantime, Filipe Luís will rely on Matthis Abline, Paris Brunner and Mika Biereth as his recognised senior attacking options. That depth gives Monaco flexibility across domestic and European fixtures while Balogun’s situation remains unresolved.