Middlesbrough have signed Folarin Balogun on loan from Arsenal until the end of 2021-22 season.
Balogun’s move to Boro marks the first senior loan move of the 20 year-old’s career after he graduated through Arsenal’s Youth Academy, culminating in two goals in ten first-team appearances for the Gunners since last season.
This season has also seen Balogun net 11 goals in 13 appearances for Arsenal’s Under-23s in Premier League 2, although he has failed to find the net in four senior outings across Premier League and Carabao Cup this campaign.
Speaking about the decision to sign Balogun after failing to do so last season whilst at Sheffield United, Boro manager – Chris Wilder said: “He’s a player I’ve known about for a long time and we identified him as someone who could come in and improve us in the second half of the season.
“He has great movement, good pace, and he’s a natural finisher. We’re looking forward to working with him.”
Arsenal issued the following statement concerning confirmation of this loan switch for Balogun, as the North London club said: ‘Everyone at the club wishes Folarin all the best during his time with Middlesbrough.’
Balogun could make his Middlesbrough debut at home on Saturday (15 January 2022) as Boro host Reading at Riverside Stadium in Sky Bet Championship at 3pm GMT.
Balogun is Boro’s third signing of this month’s transfer window after Aaron Connolly joined on loan from Brighton, whilst Caolan Boyd-Munce joined from Birmingham City on a permanent deal and scored on debut at Mansfield in Third Round of 2021-22 FA Cup.
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