Folarin Balogun
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Folarin Jerry Balogun[1] | ||
Date of birth | 3 July 2001 | ||
Place of birth | New York City, New York, United States | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Arsenal | ||
Number | 38 | ||
Youth career | |||
Aldersbrook | |||
2008–2020 | Arsenal | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2020– | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
International career | |||
2018 | England U17 | ||
2018–2019 | England U18 | ||
2020– | England U20 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:58, 22 December 2020 (UTC) |
Folarin Balogun (born 3 July 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Arsenal.
Early life
Balogun was born in New York City and migrated to England as a 2-year-old child,[3][4] growing up in London.[5] His parents were born in Nigeria.[6]
Club career
Balogun began with Arsenal at the age of eight. At the same time, he sometimes played with his previous Sunday side, Aldersbrook.[7][8] At the same time he trialled with North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and nearly signed for them.[8]
He signed a professional contract in February 2019.[9]
In July 2020 he was linked with a transfer away from the club.[10][11]
He made his senior debut in the Europa League on 29 October 2020, coming on as a substitute in the 74th minute in a group stage match against Dundalk.[12][13]
He scored his first senior goal on 26 November 2020, in a Europa League match against Molde.[14][13]
International career
After having been capped for England by the England national under-17 football team and appearing in the 2018 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, he was called up by the United States under-18 men's national soccer team in August 2018 for a training camp in the Czech Republic.[5][15] He has also expressed interest in playing for Nigeria, although he has stated that he enjoys England's "style of play" which is "similar to Arsenal's".[16][17]
In 2019 he appeared and scored for the England national under-18 football team in a tournament in Dubai.[18] In October 2020 he made an appearance for the England national under-20 football team against Wales.[19][20]
Career statistics
- As of match played 22 December 2020
Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Arsenal U21 | 2018–19[21] | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
2019–20[22] | — | — | — | — | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
2020–21[13] | — | — | — | — | 2[a] | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||
Total | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||||||
Arsenal | 2020–21[13] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[b] | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
Career total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 3 |
- ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy.
- ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League.
References
- ^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2018 and 31/07/2018". The Football Association. p. 4. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019.
- ^ Folarin Balogun at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (21 March 2019). "Nigeria yet to approach Arsenal's Folarin Balogun". BBC News. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Mikel Arteta sends message to Arsenal contract rebel Folarin Balogun". Metro. London. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ a b Karen, Mattias (20 August 2018). "U.S. under-18s call up promising Arsenal prospect Folarin Balogun". ESPN. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Critchlow, Dan (15 March 2019). "Folarin Balogun admits he hasn't decided international allegiance: England, USA or Nigeria". Daily Cannon. Belfast. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Wheatley, Chris (4 September 2018). "Arsenal academy update: Smith-Rowe, Willock & Balogun set for breakthrough campaign". Goal.com. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ a b "YOUNG GUN: FOLARIN BALOGUN". Arsenal F.C. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "Nigerian born Folarin Balogun signs professional contract with Arsenal". Pulse. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- ^ "Folarin Balogun appears to confirm Arsenal decision on Instagram". 3 July 2020.
- ^ "Folarin Balogun: Arsenal demand £8m for Brentford target". Sky Sports.
- ^ Smith, Geroge (29 October 2020). "'Better than Firmino!' – Arsenal fans go nuts after Mikel Arteta's Folarin Balogun decision". football.London. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Games played by Folarin Balogun in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- ^ "Arsenal into last 32 with win at Molde" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Emmanuel, Ifeanyi (20 August 2018). "Arsenal's Nigerian Whizkid Provisionally Cap-Tied To England Selected To Represent USA". All Nigeria soccer. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "' Don't Play For Nigeria ' – English FA To Meet With Parents Of Arsenal Nigeria U20 Target Folarin Balogun". Own Goal Nigeria. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Young Gun: Folarin Balogun". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "The young lions were victorious in their opening game in Dubai with a 4–1 over Japan". The FA. The Football Association. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Two quickfire goals in the first half seal seal win for Lee Carsley's Young Lions at SGP". FA. The Football Association. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Lewis Webb of Wales saves from Folarin Balogun of England". Shutterstock. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Folarin Balogun in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- ^ "Games played by Folarin Balogun in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 November 2020.