This was genuinely unbelievable. One chain of deals. Four clubs. Zero arrivals.
Monaco needed a sale
AS Monaco needed to sell a player — to help a debt issue, and to free a non-EU squad spot for Mexican midfielder Erik Lira.
They agreed to sell Folarin Balogun to Everton. Then the medical happened. Problems and doubts. The transfer stalled.
Chelsea jumped in
Chelsea smelled blood. Enzo Fernández was already heading to Manchester City. They went all-in for Lamine Camara as the replacement, and reached an agreement with Monaco.
Everton, stuck on Balogun, turned to Joshua Zirkzee. Manchester United said no.
Then it all snapped
With the clock running down, Everton came back for Balogun — and tried to renegotiate cheaper.
Monaco preferred selling Balogun, not Camara. So they pulled the plug on Camara to Chelsea.
Chelsea could have cancelled Enzo’s move to City. They did not. They honoured the agreement and let Enzo leave — with no replacement.
Final twist: Balogun decided not to join Everton after the medical and the haggling. He left the training centre without signing.
Who got what
- Monaco kept both Balogun and Camara, did not raise the money they wanted, and did not free the non-EU spot. Erik Lira did not join.
- Chelsea lost Enzo Fernández for a Premier League-record fee and missed Camara.
- Everton missed Balogun and Zirkzee. They had already sold Beto to Fiorentina. Thierno Barry is now their only recognised centre-forward.
Deadline day. Don’t even try to make sense of it.