One-time Sheffield United transfer target stars for USA in World Cup opener
Folarin Balogun, who scored twice in the USA’s World Cup opener, was once a transfer target for Sheffield United.
The USA made a dream start to their 2026 World Cup campaign in the early hours of Saturday morning with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, inspired by two goals from a one-time Sheffield United transfer target.
AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun was the star of the show after two excellent first half finishes helped Mauricio Pochettino’s side storm into a 3-0 lead by half-time in Los Angeles. He netted his side’s second and third goals after an own-goal from Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla gave the co-hosts the lead after just seven minutes.
Balogun claimed his first of the game with 31 minutes gone, connecting with Christian Pulisic’s low cross to power the ball home, before bagging his second just before half-time with a sublime finish into the top corner after escaping Omar Alderete. Giovanni Reyna added a fourth for Pochettino’s side in injury time after Mauricio had earlier pulled one back for Paraguay.
For any United supporters who made the decision to stay up late and watch the USA’s opening game, a feeling of ‘what if’ may have entered their heads amid Balogun’s eye-catching double. The 24-year-old was a target for the Blades and boss Chris Wilder back in 2020.
On Arsenal’s books at the time, Wilder proposed to take Balogun on loan for the 2020/21 campaign. The Star, at the time, reported Wilder wanted United to also negotiate a ‘right to buy’ option after being convinced of Balogun’s talents.
Wilder said: “Yeah, we made an enquiry. That’s left with the CEO at our club and at Arsenal. We want attributes that suit us at the top of the club and hopefully move us forward."
Balogun, who eventually left Arsenal on a permanent basis in 2023, joining Monaco, ended up working with Wilder at Middlesbrough after signing for the Riverside outfit in January 2022. He joined them on loan for the remainder of the 2021/22 season.
He made 21 appearances for Middlesbrough under Wilder, scoring three goals. His first goal for the club, funnily enough, was against the Blades in a 4-1 defeat for Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane in March 2022.
Balogun, who will be hoping to add to his two goals against Paraguay when the USA face Australia in their second Group D match next Friday evening, joined French club Reims on loan for the 2022/23 season and really started to make a name for himself, plundering 22 goals in 39 games.
He then joined Monaco on a permanent basis in August 2023 for a reported initial fee of £25.7million and he has since scored 31 goals in 91 games for the Ligue 1 outfit. He has 11 goals in 28 games for the USA.