Folarin Balogun

Folarin Jerry Balogun (born July 3, 2001) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Reims, on loan from Premier League club Arsenal.

Folarin Balogun
Balogun training with Arsenal in 2022
Personal information
Full name Folarin Jerry Balogun[1]
Date of birth (2001-07-03) July 3, 2001
Place of birth Brooklyn, New York, U.S.[2]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[3]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Reims
(on loan from Arsenal)
Number 29
Youth career
Aldersbrook
2008–2020 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Arsenal 2 (0)
2022 → Middlesbrough (loan) 18 (3)
2022– → Reims (loan) 34 (19)
International career‡
2018 England U17
2018 United States U18 4 (2)
2018–2019 England U18
2020 England U20 1 (0)
2021–2022 England U21 13 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:17, May 12, 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:05, September 27, 2022 (UTC)

Born in the United States, he represented both the United States and England at youth international level. In May 2023, he switched to the United States to represent them at senior level.

Early life

Balogun was born in New York City and emigrated to England when he was two years old,[4][5] growing up in London.[6] His parents were born in Nigeria.[7] Balogun is often referred to by his nickname of 'Flo', coined for him in his years at Arsenal's Hale End academy.[8]

Club career

Early career

Balogun joined Arsenal at the age of eight after being scouted while playing for his previous Sunday League side, Aldersbrook.[9][10] Before trialling with Arsenal, he had trialled with North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and nearly signed for them.[10]

In 2017 he was an integral part of Trevor Bumstead's Arsenal U16 side that won the Liam Brady Cup, beating Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Juventus respectively.[11]

He signed a professional contract in February 2019.[12]

In July 2020, after failing to agree a new contract with Arsenal, he was linked with a transfer away from the club, including a proposed £8 million sale to Brentford.[13][14]

He made his senior debut in the Europa League on 29 October 2020, coming on as a substitute in the 74th minute in a group stage match against Dundalk.[15][16]

He scored his first senior goal on November 26, 2020, in a Europa League group stage match against Molde.[17][16]

On April 26, 2021, Balogun signed a new long-term contract with the club.[18]

Balogun made his Premier League debut in a 2–0 loss against newly promoted Brentford on August 13, 2021.[19]

On January 12, 2022, he joined EFL Championship club Middlesbrough on a loan deal until the end of the season.[20][21][22]

2022–23 season: Loan to Reims

In August 2022, he moved on loan to French club Reims.[23][24] Balogun scored on his debut for the club on August 7, a 4–1 defeat to Marseille; fellow Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares scored for Marseille in the match, on his debut respectively.[25] On 29 January 2023, Balogun scored a late goal in stoppage time to seal a 1–1 draw away to league leaders PSG.[26] It was his 11th goal in Ligue 1 during the season, the most of any player aged 21 or under in Europe's top five leagues.[26] Three days later, Balogun scored his first senior hat-trick in a 4–2 win over Lorient, his 14th goal of the season in Ligue 1.[27] This made him the top scorer in Ligue 1.[28]

International career

Born in the United States to Nigerian parents and raised in England, Balogun was eligible to represent any of the three nations at international level. After playing for England at the under-17 level and appearing in the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship,[29] he accepted a call up from the United States under-18 national team in August 2018 for a training camp and a tournament in the Czech Republic.[6][30] He played in all four of the United States' games in the Václav Ježek Youth Tournament and scored twice.[31] He has also expressed interest in playing for Nigeria, although he has stated that he enjoys England's "style of play" which is "similar to Arsenal's".[32][33]

In 2019, he appeared and scored for the England under-18 national team in a tournament in Dubai.[34] In October 2020 he made an appearance for the England under-20 against Wales.[35][36]

On August 27, 2021, Balogun received his first call up to the England under-21 team.[37] On September 7, 2021, he made his England U21 debut as a substitute during the 2–0 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification win over Kosovo under-21s at Stadium MK.[38]

In October 2022 he said he was open to playing for Nigeria.[39]

On May 16, 2023, FIFA approved Balogun's application for a one-time switch to represent the United States national team. He had been recruited by the United States through several meetings, which included watching the Orlando Magic and New York Yankees play in Florida.[40]

Style of play

Balogun has displayed pace, technique, and the ability to play two-footed.[41] Martin Keown has compared Balogun to Arsenal's second highest ever goalscorer Ian Wright, due to his pace and intelligent movement.[42] In his first interview for Middlesbrough, Balogun said he took inspiration from Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski.[43]

Career statistics
As of match played May 12, 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] League cup[lower-alpha 2] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal U21 2018–19[44] — ————1[lower-alpha 3]010
2019–20[45] — ————1[lower-alpha 3]010
2020–21[16] — ————2[lower-alpha 3]121
2021–22[46] — ————2[lower-alpha 3]222
Total ————6363
Arsenal 2020–21[16] Premier League 0000105[lower-alpha 4]20062
2021–22[46] Premier League 200020——40
2022–23[47] Premier League 00000000—00
Total 2000305200102
Middlesbrough (loan) 2021–22[46] Championship 1832000——203
Reims (loan) 2022–23[47] Ligue 1 341921———3620
Career total 5422413052637228
  1. Includes FA Cup, Coupe de France
  2. Includes EFL Cup
  3. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2018 and 31/07/2018". The Football Association. p. 4. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019.
  2. Di Stasio, Arnaud (December 11, 2022). "Folarin Balogun: 'I'm going to make a decision soon'". Ligue 1. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  3. Folarin Balogun at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  4. Okeleji, Oluwashina (March 21, 2019). "Nigeria yet to approach Arsenal's Folarin Balogun". BBC News. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  5. "Mikel Arteta sends message to Arsenal contract rebel Folarin Balogun". Metro. London. October 30, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  6. Karen, Mattias (August 20, 2018). "U.S. under-18s call up promising Arsenal prospect Folarin Balogun". ESPN. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  7. Critchlow, Dan (March 15, 2019). "Folarin Balogun admits he hasn't decided international allegiance: England, USA or Nigeria". Daily Cannon. Belfast. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  8. "Nelson - The youngsters who have impressed me most". Nelson - The youngsters who have impressed me most. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  9. Wheatley, Chris (September 4, 2018). "Arsenal academy update: Smith-Rowe, Willock & Balogun set for breakthrough campaign". Goal. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  10. "Young Gun: Folarin Balogun". Arsenal F.C. July 12, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  11. Under-16s lift Liam Brady cup Arsenal.com, 3rd April 2017. Retrieved February 7th 2023.
  12. Abayomi, Tosin (February 14, 2019). "Nigerian born Folarin Balogun signs professional contract with Arsenal". Pulse. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  13. "Folarin Balogun appears to confirm Arsenal decision on Instagram". Metro. DMG Media. July 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  14. Thomas, Lyall (July 31, 2020). "Folarin Balogun: Arsenal demand £8m for Brentford target". Sky Sports. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  15. Smith, Geroge (October 29, 2020). "'Better than Firmino!' – Arsenal fans go nuts after Mikel Arteta's Folarin Balogun decision". Football.london. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  16. "Games played by Folarin Balogun in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  17. "Molde 0-3 Arsenal: Nicolas Pepe praised by Mikel Arteta". BBC Sport. November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  18. "Folarin Balogun signs new long-term contract". Arsenal F.C. April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  19. de Roché, Art (August 13, 2021). "Folarin Balogun starts his first Premier League game for Arsenal vs Brentford". The Athletic. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  20. "Arsenal loan striker Balogun to Boro". BBC Sport. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  21. "Folarin Balogun joins Middlesbrough on loan". Arsenal F.C. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  22. "Folarin Balogun Joins Boro On Loan". Middlesbrough F.C. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  23. "Folarin Balogun joins Stade de Reims on loan". Arsenal F.C. August 3, 2022.
  24. Flood, George (August 3, 2022). "Arsenal confirm exit as clear-out continues but striker will be back". Evening Standard.
  25. "Marseille 4-1 Reims: Arsenal loanees Nuno Tavares & Folarin Balogun grab debut goals". 90min. August 7, 2022. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  26. "Paris Saint Germain 1-1 Reims". BBC. January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  27. Stroud, James (February 1, 2023). "Folarin Balogun: Arsenal loanee scores superb hat-trick in Reims v Lorient". GiveMeSport. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  28. "'Arsenal's headache' - the youngster outscoring Mbappe". BBC Sport.
  29. "European Under-17 Championships: England lose 6-5 on penalties to Netherlands". BBC Sport. May 17, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  30. Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (August 20, 2018). "Arsenal's Nigerian Whizkid Provisionally Cap-Tied To England Selected To Represent USA". All Nigeria soccer. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  31. Henry Jr., Larry (August 25, 2018). "USMNT U-18s win Vaclav Jezek Tournament". SBI Soccer. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  32. "' Don't Play For Nigeria ' – English FA To Meet With Parents Of Arsenal Nigeria U20 Target Folarin Balogun". Own Goal Nigeria. March 23, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  33. "Young Gun: Folarin Balogun". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  34. "The young lions were victorious in their opening game in Dubai with a 4–1 over Japan". The FA. The Football Association. March 19, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  35. "Two quickfire goals in the first half seal win for Lee Carsley's Young Lions at SGP". FA. The Football Association. October 13, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  36. "Lewis Webb of Wales saves from Folarin Balogun of England". Shutterstock. October 13, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  37. "Harvey Elliott: Liverpool winger receives first England U21 call-up for September internationals". Sky Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  38. "England U21 2-0 Kosovo U21". BBC Sport. September 7, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  39. "England U21 star Balogun open to Nigeria call-up". BBC Sport.
  40. Tannenwald, Jonathan (May 16, 2023). "Highly rated striker Folarin Balogun commits to the USMNT". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  41. Football, Planet (October 30, 2020). "'This young boy is fire' - Everything you need to know about Folarin Balogun". Planet Football. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  42. Wheatley, Chris (December 11, 2020). "Arsenal's 'next Ian Wright' who has shown Arteta what he can do in 60 minutes". Football.London. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  43. "Folarin Balogun | Official Website of the Boro- Middlesbrough FC latest news, photos and videos". www.mfc.co.uk. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  44. "Games played by Folarin Balogun in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  45. "Games played by Folarin Balogun in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  46. "Games played by Folarin Balogun in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  47. "Games played by Folarin Balogun in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
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