Folarin-Balogun-USA-World-Cup
You can almost picture the scene. Dead silence sweeping across the boardroom, heads in hands, and Folarin Balogun's plane heading back to Monaco. It's the stuff of nightmares for just about any club, but for Everton it was their disastrous reality on deadline day.
They went from signing the American, to finding a problem in his medical to the player himself opting out of a move after so much toing and throwing. David Moyes has now been left with just one striker in Thierno Barry after Balogun failed to arrive and Beto left for Fiorentina.
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Every Everton signing 26/27 Nationality Previous Club Fee
Merlin Rohl Germany Freiburg £18m
Tyrique George England Chelsea £18m
Hayden Hackney England Middlesbrough £16.5m
Christian Norgaard Denmark Arsenal £7m
Ainsley Maitland-Niles England Lyon £3m
Brennan Johnson Wales Crystal Palace Swap
The Scot is expected to take Everton into European contention this season, though he may argue that he simply hasn't been handed the resources to do so.
As for Balogun, he simply felt disrespected as the Toffees searched for alternatives whilst he sat in Merseyside waiting. In the end, it was a step too far when Everton attempted to reignite their move.
REUTERS/Lee Smith
Monaco chief Thiago Scuro explained exactly what happened to Balogun's deadline-day move earlier this week, saying: "Five minutes to close the transfer window there, for us to finish all the paperwork between Monaco and Everton and Balo. I signed the contract. Everton signed the contract. At the last moment, the players decided not to sign.
"And basically, Balogun’s allegation is that I’m not feeling well because of the way the club treated me. I’m not feeling well because Everton’s medical department raised doubts about my future or my health. I have nothing, so I’m not comfortable signing a long contract here."
It left the Toffees scrambling in the final stages of the window and saw them turn towards Real Betis star Abde Ezzalzouli.
Everton launched last-minute offer to sign Abde Ezzalzouli
REUTERS/Jon Nazca
As reported by Mundo Deportivo in Spain and relayed by Sport Witness, Everton made a late offer to sign Ezzalzouli from Real Betis. The Toffees submitted a last-minute bid worth €43m (£37m), only for Betis to reject that offer and point towards the forward's €60m (£52m) release clause.
Of course, that would have made Ezzalzouli the most expensive player in the club's history. In the end, however, Everton opted out of a move and chose not to trigger the winger's release clause.
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Everton's record signings Fee (add ons included) Signed From Year
Gylfi Sigurdsson £45m Swansea City 2017
Tyler Dibling £42m Southampton 2025
Richarlison £40m Watford 2018
Amadou Onana £33m Lille 2022
Romelu Lukaku £28m Chelsea 2014
Alex Iwobi £28m Arsenal 2019
Yerry Mina £27.2m Barcelona 2018
Thierno Barry £27m Villarreal 2025
Beto £26m Udinese 2023
Jordan Pickford £25m Sunderland 2017
They weren't the only side linked with the Betis star in the summer, either. After scoring 15 goals and assisting another 13 in all competitions last season, the 24-year-old also found himself on Newcastle United's radar. Ultimately, however, he remained a Real Betis player.
Whether Everton or Newcastle revive their moves when the January transfer window swings open is now the big question.