Folarin Balogun: Meet the Nigeria eligible French Ligue One top-scorer
21-year old Folarin Balogun is the current French Ligue One top-scorer. The Nigeria eligible striker has scored 14 goals for Stade de Reims to lead the likes of Kyllian Mbappe on the goal-scorers chart.
SportsRation takes you through the life of Nigeria Super Eagles eligible Folarin Balogun who has excelled in the colours of Stade de Reims on loan from Arsenal.
BIRTH AND PARENTAGE
Folarin Jerry Balogun was born on the 3rd of July 2001 in New York City to Nigerian Parents.
WHERE DID HE START HIS FOOTBALLÂ
Folarin Balogun’s parents moved from the United States of America to England when he was two years old.
Balogun started playing football early and starred for Sunday League club Aldersbook until he was scouted and signed on by Arsenal FC aged Eight (8).
Balogun continued his development at Arsenal’s Hale End Academy until 2019 when he signed his first professional contract with the Gunners.
LACK OF GAME-TIME AT ARSENALÂ
After signing his first professional contract in Febuary 2019, Balogun will wait until October 2020 to get his senior debut.
His senior debut came as a 74th minute substitute in Arsenal’s UEFA Europa league group stage match vs Dundalk.
On November 26, Balogun scored his first Arsenal FC goal vs Molde in the UEFA Europa League.
In the 2021/2022 season, Balogun finally got his English Premier League bow as Arsenal suffered a 0-2 loss to Brentford in their first game of the season.
After failing to hold down a starting spot in Mikel Arterta’s team, Balogun was sent out on loan to Middleborough in January 2022 until the end of the season.
For the 2022/2023 season, Arsenal elected to send the forward out on loan to Stade de Reims.
Balogun had a goal-scoring debut for Reims in their 1-4 Ligue One defeat to Olympique Marseille.
20-weeks into the season, Balogun leads the goal-scorers chart with 14 goals, one more than former Arsenal teammate, Alexander Lacazette (13) and French superstar Kyllian Mbappe (13).
Thanks to Balogun’s prolific goal return, Stade de Reims are 10th on the French Ligue One standings and manager Will Smith will hope that run continues.
If he beats Kyllian Mbappe and other superstars to the top-scorer award at the end of the season, Arsenal will have a decision to make in the summer.
A decision to keep the striker with guarantee of consistent game-time or cash in on the youngster whose value could rise to over £50 million.
FULL- INTERNATIONAL CAREER
Balogun is eligible to represent Nigeria, United States and England at full international level.
The youngster has not made his choice yet but has represented the English and Americans at Youth level.
When asked to make choice from the three countries, the Ligue 1 top-scorer has suggested he is open to a Nigeria call-up
