Everton’s pursuit of Monaco forward Folarin Balogun ended unsuccessfully on transfer deadline day, creating a significant personnel shortage for the club. The situation has left manager David Moyes with only one recognized striker for the first half of the upcoming season, following the departures of Beto to Fiorentina and Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City.

The circumstances surrounding the deal's failure are reported differently by various outlets. Sky Sports reports that the move fell through due to a "change of heart" from Balogun, noting that the negotiations were complicated by a separate deal involving Lamine Camara’s move to Chelsea. Conversely, The Guardian reports that the deal collapsed due to issues identified during the player's medical examination. According to The Guardian, Everton attempted to secure late alternatives by inquiring about loan moves for Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee and Aston Villa’s Tammy Abraham, but both approaches were rejected.

While the financial terms were reportedly set at £40 million, the breakdown of the transfer has forced Everton to navigate a difficult start to the season with a depleted attacking lineup. No further official statements have clarified which specific factor—the player's decision or the medical results—was the primary driver for the deal's termination.