Tag: Reims

‘Never easy to say goodbye’ – Balogun bids farewell to Reims ahead of Arsenal return

The striker scored 21 league goals during his loan in France

Folarin Balogun has bid farewell to Reims after a hugely successful loan spell at the Ligue 1 club.

The striker scored 21 league goals in 2022-23 during his loan from Arsenal, establishing himself as one of the top young forwards in Europe.

Balogun also set off an international tug-of-war over his services, which the U.S. national team won last month when the 21-year-old pledged his future to his birth country.

With his international future sorted, Balogun will now turn his attention toward his club situation. Should he stay at Arsenal, consistent minutes would by no means be guaranteed with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah already in the fold.

Balogun is reportedly eyeing a permanent move away this summer rather than another loan, with several clubs across Europe interested.

The prospect of staying at Reims, either through another loan or on a permanent deal, has never seemed to be a real option for Balogun, who made his departure official with a heartfelt message on social media.

“Never easy to say goodbye, but we’ve arrived at the inevitable destination,” he said.

“Last summer I had the opportunity to join and was welcomed with open arms from day one! The support I’ve received from you all throughout my loan spell has been incredible and heartwarming. I leave hoping I was able to repay the love, trust and belief you guys put in me.

“This will forever be an unforgettable chapter for me and my family. Thank you for everything! Balo.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtHpYCtNcNp/?hl=en

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Balogun convinced USMNT will become ‘something spectacular’

The 21-year-old striker said his family encouraged him to pick the USMNT

Folarin Balogun has said the chance to be part of the U.S. men’s national team project, plus some encouragement from his family, helped him commit his international future to the United States.

Balogun officially chose the USMNT over England and Nigeria last month and on Thursday, he was named to a U.S. roster for the first time when he was included in a 24-man squad for the CONCACAF Nations League.

The 21-year-old has been in high demand after a 20-goal season with Reims while on loan from Arsenal, and his commitment is a huge coup for a USMNT squad that has not had a clear first-choice No. 9 in some time.

The U.S. will hope that Balogun could be the missing piece in a player pool that is already filled with young talent.

In an appearance on “Morning Footy” on Friday, Balogun said he felt the USMNT could become “something spectacular” in the lead-up to a home World Cup in 2026.

“I just really liked the project,” the striker said. “I really like where it could head. I think this is just the beginning for U.S. Soccer. I really think it’s going to become something spectacular in the near future.”

Balogun was born in New York to Nigerian parents and moved to England at a young age. The striker said that his family encouraged him to pick the U.S., a country to which he feels a strong connection.

“There were numerous conversations, this is something that went on for a while,” Balogun said of the process to decide his international future. “There were things that needed to happen before we could reach the stage [to announce a decision].

“My family was super, super encouraging. They really, really wanted me to represent the USA. When I made the final decision, we were just really looking forward to what the future holds.

“There were many reasons [I picked the U.S.] but specifically, it was the connection that I had whenever I went back to America. I’ve been to many different parts, but New York especially. There was just a sense of belonging.”

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Southgate: We won’t call Balogun up to stop him from joining USMNT

The Three Lions boss would like to see the striker prove himself in the Premier League

Gareth Southgate has insisted he won’t call Folarin Balogun up for England just to prevent him from committing to the United States.

Balogun’s international future has been a huge talking point over the past week after the striker seemed to indicate his disappointment at not getting an England senior call-up, was called in and then subsequently withdrew from England’s U-21 roster, and was then spotted in Orlando where the USMNT is based over the international break.

The 21-year-old, who is eligible for England, the USMNT and Nigeria, has seen his stock soar this season on loan at Reims, where he’s scored 17 league goals.

But Southgate indicated that the on-loan Arsenal man may get dinged in his book for not proving himself in the Premier League yet.

“It is up to the player to weigh up where his heart feels,” Southgate said at a press conference. “Is he prepared to wait a little bit for an opportunity if he backs himself and feels he can push his way into our squad?

“Because anybody who has followed us will know that we will give young players a chance.

“So, we cannot go and give first-team call-ups to someone just because we don’t want them to go somewhere else.

“We like Flo. He has obviously not had an opportunity in the Premier League yet, so we have to weigh up those goals to Ivan [Toney], for example, or Ollie Watkins. Or Eddie Nketiah, who has done really well with the opportunity he has had at Arsenal.”

Watkins and Nketiah, notably, did not make the cut for the current England squad.

The USMNT, meanwhile, continues to put on the full-court press to land the New York-born striker.

“It’s been an opportunity for us just to share about our program and who we are, and what we do,” interim coach Anthony Hudson said last week of Balogun’s trip to Florida. “And again, hope we get the chance to speak with him again. It’s been good to me, and I know a few of the guys have spoken to him as well.”

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This is not a drill: Folarin Balogun is (probably) in Orlando

Balogun to the USMNT confirmed? Not so fast!

Folarin Balogun playing for the U.S. men’s national team just became quite a bit more plausible.

Either that, or he really wants to visit Disney World.

That’s because the in-demand striker has been spotted in Orlando — the city where, as it happens, the USMNT is stationed right now ahead of its upcoming CONCACAF Nations League matches.

After posting his annoyance about not getting called into England’s senior national team (or maybe about something else entirely), Balogun was called up by England’s U-21 side, only to withdraw on Tuesday with what the FA said was an injury.

The next day, the striker posted a couple pictures of himself and an unidentified man on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqGb27cOMLy/?hl=en

No big deal, right? But wait, what does that wall behind them say?

“Here to chase tail.” That sure looks like the wall of a bar called Pups Pub in, yes, Orlando!

If there were any lingering doubt as to Balogun’s locale in the photos, the building behind him in the first picture is also very much located in Orlando.

So Balogun to USMNT confirmed? Well, not so fast.

First off, there is no confirmation the pictures are necessarily from the past 24 hours. Balogun was actually in Orlando with Arsenal last summer when the club played in the preseason Florida Cup against Chelsea.

Shortly after, Balogun joined Reims on loan, where he’s scored 17 goals to put himself among Ligue 1’s top scorers this season.

If the pictures are recent, there is also a chance that Balogun is visiting the USMNT not as a commit but as a recruit, looking to get a feel for the team and atmosphere before making a final decision on his international future.

Or he just wants to ride Space Mountain.

On Wednesday, Matt Turner was asked about Balogun after the USMNT goalkeeper and the striker were teammates during Arsenal’s preseason.

“I knew going into [preseason] that he had some roots in the U.S.,” Turner said of the New York-born forward. “So him and I developed a relationship pretty quickly.

“We check in on each other here and there. He’d be a great addition to our national team. He’s done really well for his club on loan and we’ll see — the decision has to come from the heart.

“It’s not necessarily an easy task always to come and play in these CONCACAF games. And it’s a tough region at times. So for us, we’d be really grateful to have him but his heart needs to be in it.”

In any event, we have reached out to U.S. Soccer for comment, and will update this post with any response.

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Let’s all lose our minds about Folarin Balogun’s Instagram post

It’s official: Balogun is definitely, 100 percent picking the USMNT. No doubt

If you are a fan of reading way too much into social media posts, Folarin Balogun provided some fantastic content on Thursday.

The in-demand striker’s cryptic Instagram post led to speculation that he’d perhaps turned his back on England and was ready to reconsider playing for the U.S. national team.

Balogun, who is enjoying a standout season with Reims while on loan from Arsenal, was left off Gareth Southgate’s England squad on Thursday.

Immediately after the snub, the 21-year-old posted on Instagram: “In life, go where your [sic] appreciated.”

The post came one day after interim USMNT coach Anthony Hudson said “there is open dialogue with [Balogun] and his team,” as the American federation looks to recruit a player who looks like a game-changer.

New York-born Balogun has most recently been with England’s youth setup, and is also eligible to represent Nigeria.

Was the post confirmation he was ready to commit to the USMNT? Was he merely lashing out? Was he even talking about soccer? Who knows! But let’s check the reaction anyway.

Hudson: USMNT in ‘open dialogue’ with Balogun

The 21-year-old striker is flying high on loan with Reims

U.S. Soccer is in “open dialogue” with Folarin Balogun, according to U.S. men’s national team interim coach Anthony Hudson.

The Arsenal striker has been a revelation this season on loan with Reims, scoring 16 goals in Ligue 1.

Balogun’s performance in France has led to plenty of speculation over his future, both for club and country.

The New York-born striker is eligible to represent the USMNT, Nigeria and England, and has played for both the U.S. and England at the youth international level.

Most recently, Balogun has been involved in England’s U-21 setup, while he reportedly turned down a senior call from Nigeria this month.

Hudson told reporters on Wednesday that he and U.S. Soccer officials have been in communication with the on-demand striker, though he would not elaborate any further.

“With Flo, all I’ll say is that there is open dialogue with him and his team, and that dialogue is continuing,” Hudson said. “That’s all I can say on that one.”

Hudson spoke in general terms about the federation’s efforts to recruit dual-national players, which paid off this week when Alex Zendejas committed to the USMNT over Mexico.

“It’s been really important to make sure we’re doing all we can to engage with [dual-nationals] and if there are any out there that can help the team, we need need to connect and engage … and try to encourage them,” Hudson said. “We need to show them what we’re doing, and hopefully get guys to come and commit to us.”

U.S. Soccer’s recruiting efforts could, however, be hampered by the absence of a permanent USMNT head coach and general manager, as well as a U.S. Soccer sporting director.

U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone has said she hopes to have a sporting director in place before the start of the World Cup in July, which would be followed by a permanent USMNT head coach.

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Reims president: It’s impossible for us to sign Balogun

The 21-year-old is pricing himself out of a long-term stay at the Ligue 1 club

Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot knows he and his club will have to enjoy Folarin Balogun while they can.

Balogun has turned in an incredible season on loan from Arsenal, and is currently tied for the most goals in Ligue 1 with 15. 

The forward’s campaign has led to plenty of speculation over his future as he gets set to return to Arsenal at the conclusion of the season. The Gunners will mull over whether to cash in on the 21-year-old, offer him a first-team role in 2023-24, or send him on another loan — presumably to a bigger club than Reims.

In an interview with  France Bleu, Caillot was realistic about his club’s prospects of landing the USMNT-eligible striker on a long-term basis, though he admitted he still holds out faint hope of bringing him back on another loan next season.

“I think [signing him permanently] is impossible,” Caillot said. “The rules of the game are clear: these are boys that, when they join us, know that they’re here to improve and that it’s a step for them. So even if I’m not deciding for him, either Folarin will return to his club (Arsenal) to have his chance, he’s loaned out, or transferred to a very big club.

“He is a player that should go even higher. So obviously we’ll ask him if he feels good here, and at his club, but I think that now, he will need to take a step up.

“We are already working on life after Balogun, the day when he will leave our club. But if he and the club are open to another year at Reims, we’ll do everything to make it happen.”

While Balogun’s club future remains in the air, his international destination has also become a major talking point. The forward has most recently represented England at the Under-21 level, but has said he remains open to playing for his birth country of the United States or Nigeria.

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Folarin Balogun is tearing it up with Reims, and he’s keeping his USMNT options open

The USMNT is still in the mix for the Arsenal product

Folarin Balogun is keeping all doors open, including one that could lead him to the U.S. men’s national team.

The Arsenal forward has had an excellent start to his loan to Reims in Ligue 1, posting six goals in his first 10 appearances since making the season-long move to northeastern France.

That will draw plenty of attention, and the England Under-21 — who is also eligible for the USMNT and Nigeria, and has played for the U.S. U-18s in the past — told L’Equipe in an interview that he’s willing to consider all three countries for his international career.

“Just like my future at club level, I am not closing any doors regarding international selection. All options remain open,” said the 21-year-old, whose most recent international appearance involved showing great composure to score for England’s U-21s in a 3-1 win over Germany.

“Above everything, I feel English, but I also have an American side, because I have family in New York and I love going there,” added Balogun, who was born in New York City. “I have my grandmother and cousins in Lagos, even if I haven’t been there since I was very young. My mother sometimes speaks to me in Yoruba and it is important to me.”

At the club level, Balogun has been stellar since making his loan move this summer, and Reims have needed him to be. Factoring in his two assists, he’s been directly involved in eight of the club’s 12 goals this season, as Reims sit one point above the relegation zone.

That shows rapid advancement after a half-season loan to Middlesbrough last season. There, Balogun produced three goals and three assists in 18 appareances in the Championship.

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U.S. youth international Kobi Henry joins Ligue 1 side Reims in record-breaking USL transfer

The 18-year-old will jump from the American second division to the French top flight

Orange County Soccer Club has announced that defender Kobi Henry has joined Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims in the largest transfer deal in the history of the United Soccer League (USL).

Henry, 18, joined USL Championship side Orange County in 2020 and was called up to the U.S. national team in December 2021, becoming the first active USL player to be called up to the USMNT.

Orange County did not disclose terms of the deal but ESPN reported the transfer fee was $700,000, which smashed the previous USL record of $250,000.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for me and my family, a dream come true,” Henry said in a club release. “When I came across the country to play for OCSC, I knew that if I put in the work and followed the plan the coaches laid out for me, I would have the opportunity to  play in Europe. I can’t thank OCSC, the staff, my teammates and the fans enough for  believing in me. Playing abroad at the highest level is a great achievement in my journey as a professional soccer player and I look forward to what the future brings.” 

Henry, who has played for the U.S. at the U-17, U-19 and U-20 levels, made 30 total appearances for OCSC.

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