---
title: "Brighton & Hove Albion: Seagulls join transfer race for Folarin Balogun"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/brighton-join-transfer-race-folarin-balogun/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2020-09-04T18:10:35Z"
modified: "2020-09-04T18:10:35Z"
---

# Brighton & Hove Albion: Seagulls join transfer race for Folarin Balogun

**Brighton allowed Leon Balogun to leave for Rangers on a [free transfer](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5849107/rangers-fc-news-leon-balogun-transfer/) this summer but they are hoping to sign a namesake in the current transfer window.**

[The Beautiful Game Podcast](https://twitter.com/Podcast_TBG/status/1301518225650450433) tweeted that the Seagulls are among several clubs interested in Arsenal youngster [Folarin Balogun](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/introducing-folarin-balogun/), who is also wanted by the likes of Southampton, AC Milan, AZ Alkmaar, Roma and Eintracht Frankfurt.

https://twitter.com/Podcast\_TBG/status/1301518225650450433

As per [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12040157/folarin-balogun-arsenal-demand-8m-for-brentford-target), the 19-year-old has refused to sign a new contract at the Emirates Stadium, where his current deal expires next year, with the Gunners demanding at least £8m for the teenager.

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

Balogun has [never played a senior game](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/folarin-balogun/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/503770) for Arsenal and does not want to sign a new deal in north London unless he can be [given assurances](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/12040157/folarin-balogun-arsenal-demand-8m-for-brentford-target) of a pathway into the first team.

While his demands may seem like arrogance from a young player with plenty still to prove, his case is helped by a sensational scoring record at underage level for the Gunners. He has played [70 matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/folarin-balogun/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/503770) between their under-18 and under-23 sides and plundered a magnificent total of [50 goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/folarin-balogun/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/503770).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”306835″\]

He struck [25 times in 19 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/folarin-balogun/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/503770) in the Under-18 Premier League the season before last and readily adapted to the under-23 grade last term, hitting [10 goals in 15 matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/folarin-balogun/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/503770) in Premier League 2.

Balogun’s promise is apparent from a [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7949233/THE-SECRET-SCOUT-Folarin-Balogun-persuade-Arsenal-Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang.html) scout report which said that there are “shades of Thierry Henry” to his style of play, while Arsenal’s [2019/20 top scorer](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/arsenal-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/11/plus/0?reldata=%262019) Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has [taken to Twitter](https://twitter.com/Aubameyang7/status/1108004491843067904) in the past to express his admiration for the teenager’s talents.

https://twitter.com/Aubameyang7/status/1108004491843067904

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Brighton will have to fend off some very strong competition if they want to sign Balogun, with AZ Alkmaar [competing in the Champions League](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/) and Milan, PSV and Roma [all in the Europea League](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/clubs/), while £8m seems a real gamble on a player with [no experience of first team football](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/folarin-balogun/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/503770).

\[freshpress-poll id=”317152″\]

However, Graham Potter is not slow to give youth its flings if he feels it is warranted. Aaron Connolly memorably [scored twice in his first Premier League start](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49861471) last year and [featured regularly throughout the season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aaron-connolly/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/434207/saison/2019/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/1237), while Tariq Lamptey – hailed as “[outstanding](https://www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-and-hove-albion/graham-potters-glowing-message-battered-and-bruised-tariq-lamptey-after-brave-debut-leicester-2893287)” by the manager – carved out a [place in the first team](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tariq-lamptey/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/504148/plus/0/saison/2019/wettbewerb/GB1/verein/1237) towards the end of 2019/20.

Balogun’s goal record at underage level and comparisons with Henry illustrates the enormity of his potential, while Potter could be the ideal manager to extract the best from him based on the successes of Connolly and Lamptey.

***Brighton fans, how good a coup would Balogun be if the Seagulls can sign him? Have your say by commenting below!***