Folarin Balogun still does not have an official return date for AS Monaco, but his situation has moved in a positive direction over the past several days. The United States striker has returned to team training, although Filipe Luís made clear before the draw with Strasbourg that he still needs more work to regain full match fitness. As a result, Balogun was not included in the squad for Matchday 4 of the 2026-27 Ligue 1 season.
When Will Folarin Balogun Return? What Monaco Fans Need to Know
The United States striker has returned to team training with AS Monaco, but there is still no official date for his comeback. The upcoming match against RC Lens is the first available opportunity, although his involvement has not been confirmed.
Balogun’s absence dates back to the start of the campaign. After playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the United States, he returned later than much of the Monaco squad and was also recovering from physical issues sustained while on international duty. Filipe Luís explained in August that the forward had effectively started his preparation late and needed a gradual buildup before returning to competition.
That delayed preparation caused him to miss both UEFA Conference League playoff matches against Górnik Zabrze as well as Monaco’s opening four Ligue 1 fixtures. The club’s official player page lists Balogun with zero minutes played this season as of September 14.
The latest update from Filipe Luís
The most significant update came on September 11. Filipe Luís confirmed that Balogun had been back in training since the previous week and said the striker was feeling well. However, he stressed that the 25-year-old still needed additional training sessions to reach optimal physical condition.
The key point is that AS Monaco has not provided a specific comeback date. Earlier in September, Filipe Luís explicitly said there was no timetable for his return and that Balogun first needed to fully rejoin team training.
Monaco’s next match is against RC Lens at the Stade Louis-II on Friday, September 18. It is therefore the earliest available opportunity for his comeback, but the club has not confirmed that he will be available.
What happened with the Everton medical?
The situation attracted additional attention at the end of the transfer window. Balogun came close to joining Everton, but the move collapsed after the English club raised questions during his medical examination.
AS Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro later explained that those concerns were reviewed and Everton ultimately became willing to proceed with the transfer. Balogun, however, chose not to complete the move because of how the situation had unfolded.
That episode does not change the most important information surrounding his return. Officially, Balogun is training again and progressing, but there is still no confirmed comeback date. After scoring 19 goals for Monaco in 2025-26, his return would add another option to an attack where Paris Brunner, Mika Biereth and Matthis Abline have filled the available roles during his absence.
