Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has almost confirmed that star academy player Folarin Balogun will stay at the club and sign a new contract.
The 18-year-old was expected to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer after failing to secure the first team’s minutes ahead. Reports suggested he could sign for a Bundesliga club on a free transfer, but he is now expected to sign a new deal with the Gunners.
Manager Arteta essentially confirmed the news during his pre-match match before the second league of the Europa League quarter-final against Slavia Prague and insisted that he was always sure the player wanted to stay.
One moment will Folarin Balogun never forget?
His first goal for Arsenal in just his second senior appearance!
They really like the look of him at the Emirates? #UEL pic.twitter.com/FpIwurBy3M
– Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) 26 November 2020
Speaking to the press, Arteta said: “We will make it official when it is official and everything is ready, but as I said before I was very positive that he wants to stay at the club. We want him to stay at the club so we is very close. “
Premier League sides Manchester City, Everton and Crystal Palace had all expressed interest, while foreign sides such as VFB Stuttgart and Monaco were also keen to bring him to their club.
Reports suggested that Bayer Leverkusen were close to agreeing a pre-contract deal with the striker, who scored his first professional goal earlier this season in the Europa League against Molde, but it seems Arteta could convince him to stay.
Balogun has scored two goals this season for the Gunners | Charles McQuillan / Getty Images
Balogun is expected to sign a new four-year contract with the club, which will keep him at the club until 2025, and will probably get more first team minutes next season.
So far this year, he has scored two goals and registered an assist in five substitute appearances for the first team, while also scoring eight times in 16 matches for the U23 team.
