Fans convinced Folarin Balogun has stunt double as Monaco announce £34m transfer of star from Arsenal with crazy video
MONACO have completed the signing of Folarin Balogun in a £34million transfer from Arsenal.
The 22-year-old striker has penned a five-year deal with the Ligue 1 side.
The deal, which totals £34m with add-ons, also includes a 17.5% sell-on clause.
Monaco announced Balogun‘s arrival with a unique NASCAR-themed video on social media.
The clip follows a truck as it races around the scenic cliffs of Monaco, with a masked driver at the wheel.
The vehicle then pulls into the club’s training centre before completing a series of doughnuts.
Balogun’s name is then revealed before the striker is seen wearing a Monaco shirt while sat on the front of the car alongside the helmet.
Fans were quick to react to the video, with one person writing: “I wonder who Balogun’s stunt double was for this announcement video?”
Another added: “I’m so confused and did not expect to see NASCAR.”
A third wrote: “Lol they really made a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-themed video for Balogun?”
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While a fourth loved it and commented: “Absolute class!”
The Gunners had been holding out all summer for a £50million fee for the US international.
But with time running out to get a deal over the line, they reluctantly accepted Monaco’s offer.
Balogun spent last season on loan with Reims, scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals in 37 appearances.
And he is not the only player leaving the Emirates this summer for less than Arsenal had been hoping for.
Nottingham Forest are set to sign full-back Nuno Tavares on a season-long loan after originally being told the player would cost them as much as £25million.
Albert Sambi Lokonga has failed to attract any concrete bids despite early interest from Burnley and Brighton.
Kieran Tierney has already gone on loan to Real Sociedad when Arsenal were hoping to sell him for around £35million.
And both Nicolas Pepe and Cedric Soares are expected to have the remaining year of their contracts paid up just to get them off the wage bill.
Balogun’s departure means that Arsenal have only raised a total of £65million this summer after selling Granit Xhaka, Pablo Mari, Auston Trusty and Matt Turner.
They have also received £2million as a part of a sell-on fee from Dinos Mavropanos’ recent move from Stuttgart to West Ham and are due a similar amount when Matteo Guendouzi completes his impending move from Marseilles to Lazio.
But it is still a long way short of the £150million they were looking to raise to offset the £208million they have spent this summer on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and David Raya.