Sold for £35m, Now Worth £14m: Arteta Struck Gold Selling “Unbelievable” Arsenal Ace
Arsenal, despite securing seven out of a possible nine points in the Premier League this season, are facing a tough situation as they head into the North London Derby this weekend.
The team is dealing with several injuries: Declan Rice is serving a suspension following his red card against Brighton & Hove Albion, Mikel Merino is unavailable due to a shoulder injury from training, and Martin Odegaard is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks due to an ankle injury sustained on international duty. This leaves Mikel Arteta with a reduced midfield roster.
While the Gunners’ current challenges involve a degree of misfortune, some fans argue that the team’s depth was compromised by not acquiring an additional midfielder during the summer transfer window and by offloading too many squad players.
On the other hand, Edu Gaspar and his team successfully raised significant funds from player sales this summer. Notably, one of the more impactful sales may have occurred earlier in Gaspar’s tenure.
Despite signing Riccardo Calafiori, Raheem Sterling, and Merino, much of Arsenal’s transfer activity this summer focused on moving out players deemed non-essential.
Although this approach may have left the squad somewhat vulnerable, the funds generated from these sales could be advantageous in the next transfer window.
For example, Emile Smith Rowe, who had seen reduced playing time last season, was sold to Fulham for an initial fee of £27 million, with the potential to reach £34 million. Given his strong performance at Fulham, it is likely that this fee could increase.
A month later, the club facilitated Eddie Nketiah’s transfer to Crystal Palace for a fee estimated around £30 million.
Although the striker was once regarded as a rising talent, his position on the team diminished with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz ahead of him in the lineup. Consequently, the 25-year-old’s departure aligned with the needs of all involved.
Additionally, despite playing a crucial role in the team’s title challenge during the 2022/23 season and being a fan favorite, Aaron Ramsdale moved to Southampton on deadline day. This transfer could amount to £25 million, including add-ons.
While these transactions are expected to provide the club with substantial financial resources for future investments, Edu’s most significant sale occurred last season.
Folarin Balogun’s Valuation in 2024
The player in question is Folarin Balogun, a former Arsenal forward who made a significant impression during the 2022/23 season while on loan at Stade Reims in Ligue 1.
Over the course of 39 matches with the French team, the American striker, praised as “Unbelievable” by sports presenter Jules Breach, scored 22 goals and added three assists, averaging a goal contribution every 1.56 games.
Balogun’s desire to avoid a backup role at Arsenal led to his transfer to AS Monaco in the summer for £35 million—a notable sum for a player who had only made ten appearances for Arsenal.
| Balogun’s last two seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Season | 22/23 | 23/24 |
| Appearances | 39 | 32 |
| Goals | 22 | 8 |
| Assists | 3 | 7 |
| Goal Involvements per Match | 0.64 | 0.46 |
| All Stats via Transfermarkt | ||
Edu and his team executed the sale at an opportune moment. Although he wasn’t poor at Monaco, his performance was modest, with only eight goals and seven assists in 32 matches—averaging a goal involvement every 2.13 games. This compares unfavorably to Alexandre Lacazette, who achieved 27 goals and assists in 35 games during the same season.
His recent drop in form has significantly affected his market value, with Football Transfers now valuing him at just €17m (about £14m), which is £21m less than what Arsenal received for him last year.
In conclusion, while Balogun remains a promising forward with potential for a successful career, Edu and his team made a shrewd move by securing £35m for him, especially given his unwillingness to be a bench player at the Emirates and the sharp decline in his valuation.
In other Arsenal news, : “Stubborn” Arsenal Player Could Now Replace Odegaard in North London Derby After Kicking Up a Fuss to Arteta
