Folarin Balogun

Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun is top the Ligue 1 scoring charts ahead of Kylian Mbappe thanks to a hat-trick for Reims.The England Under-21 internati.

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Arsenal loanee, 21-year-old Folarin Balogun has become the top goalscorer in Ligue 1, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain stars Kylian Mbappe and Neymar after ...

The striker has now scored five goals in his last three games, including a dramatic late equaliser against PSG. No U-21 player across Europe’s big five leagues has scored as many goals as Balogun this season. Balogun bagged his hat-trick against Lorient on Wednesday and has garnered 14 goals in just 18 starts.

ARSENAL loanee Folarin Balogun bagged his FIRST professional hat-trick as his tremendous loan spell at Reims hit new heights against Lorient.The 21-ye.

[Lionel Messi](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/lionel-messi/), Neymar and Kylian Mbappe and the most in the whole of the French top-flight. [FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS](https://www.thesun.co.uk/betting/20812234/free-bets/) [Arsenal](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/team/1196653/arsenal/) fans on social media have been reacting to his treble. [Balogun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/folarin-balogun/) took centre stage around the hour-mark. [Robin van Persie](https://www.thesun.co.uk/who/robin-van-persie/) scored from an Alex Song assist against Everton in 2011. [last-gasp equaliser against PSG](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21209405/watch-arsenal-balogun-goal-psg-celebrations/) on Sunday and continued where he left off in the French capital.

USMNT-eligible Folarin Balogun, who is on a season-long loan at Reims from Arsenal, moved into first place in the Ligue 1 scoring charts on Wednesday.

The striker has yet to receive a senior call-up from any of the three countries, and has most recently represented England at the U-21 level. Soccer, and how will they impact USMNT in 2026?](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2023/01/26/us-soccer-loses-sporting-director-usmnt-gm/11128411002/) [Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams guarantee great vibes at Leeds United](https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/2023/01/31/mckennie-transfer-to-leeds-usmnt-star-adams/) [open to playing for the USMNT in the future](https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/2022/10/15/folarin-balogun-usmnt-arsenal-reims-england-nigeria/). Soccer](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2023/01/26/us-soccer-loses-sporting-director-usmnt-gm/11128411002/) to actually recruit Balogun, but the federation should be devoting every resource toward convincing the forward that his interests are best served by turning out for the Stars and Stripes. [eligible for England, Nigeria and his birth country of the United States](https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/lists/americans-abroad-balogun-the-missing-piece-for-usmnt/).

Folarin Balogun is flourishing in France after joining Reims on loan from Arsenal - scoring more league goals than Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus combined ...

"He needed a pathway, he needs that exposure. I remember from training the permanent desire to progress on a technical level." This is going to give us more detail about what is the next best move for him to keep developing... Balogun was spotted talking to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry ahead of Reims' 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night. "Before I moved, Mikel said he wanted me to develop as a man," said Balogun told reporters last September. I realised there were certain things I would struggle with, but I think that’s a good thing. "It doesn't just mean on the pitch but also off the pitch. Arteta sent Balogun to Reims to mature as a player and there is no questioning his improvement. There, I learned always to push my limits. Balogun's scoring exploits mark a splendid turnaround for the youngster. He said: "Arsenal is my family. Reims recovered from two goals down after Balogun found the net three times at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II.

Folarin Balogun scored a hat trick in Reims' 4-2 win over Lorient on Wednesday.

[Barcelona nearing $4.3 million transfer for LA Galaxy star Julián Araujo](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/barcelona-nearing-4-3-million-transfer-for-la-galaxy-star-julian-araujo) [Barcelona given green light to register Gavi to first-team](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/barcelona-given-green-light-to-register-gavi-to-first-team) [USMNT star Weston McKennie joins Leeds](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/usmnt-star-weston-mckennie-reportedly-set-to-join-leeds) [No sporting director, no GM, no coach: What's next for U.S. Soccer?](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/no-sporting-director-no-gm-no-coach-whats-next-for-us-soccer) [Will Alejandro Zendejas be USMNT's next Mexican-American star?](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/will-alejandro-zendejas-be-usmnts-next-mexican-american-star) [Gio Reyna can't stop scoring game-winners for Borussia Dortmund](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/gio-reyna-cant-stop-scoring-game-winners-for-borussia-dortmund) [U.S. Soccer Federation still has an opportunity to recruit him like they did with his former [Arsenal](https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/arsenal-team) teammate [Yunus Musah](https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/yunus-musah-player). France superstar [Kylian Mbappé](https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/kylian-mbappe-2-player) is second with 13 goals. [ FIFA World Cup 2022](/stories/soccer/dutch-born-sergino-dest-key-for-usmnt-against-netherlands) [ FIFA World Cup 2022](/stories/soccer/world-cup-daily-usas-journey-ends-while-messis-magic-continues) [ FIFA World Cup 2022](/stories/soccer/christian-pulisics-greatness-shouldnt-be-expected-to-patch-usas-most-glaring-hole) [ FIFA Club World Cup](/stories/soccer/usmnt-finding-its-identity-as-a-contender-at-just-the-right-time) [United States](https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/united-states-men-team) men's national team's striker problem might be playing in northern [France](https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/france-men-team). It will be interesting to see if Balogun gets his long-awaited call-up from either team during that time. Since then, the 20-year-old has made 23 appearances for the [England](https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/england-men-team) at the youth level — most recently with the U21 team — but he's never been called up by the Three Lions' senior team.

Reims' Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun went one better than Kylian Mbappé atop the scorers chart with a hat-trick in the 4-2 win over Lorient.

However, Fonseca would have been hoping for better than just the five (of 23) shots on target the his side conjured against their tough-defending visitors, even though the point was enough for Les Dogues to climb to sixth place. Young Senegalese striker Abdallah Sima lit home hopes of a result when he opened the scoring (13'), and they lasted until the hour-mark, but newly signed forward Moussa Soumano levelled (65') and, after Angers left-back Souleyman Doumbia was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle (78'), Mounaïm El-Idrissy dashed Angers' hopes of a point in the dying seconds (90'+4). Diouf was beaten 26 minutes later, when Ibrahima Koné broke out of midfield and slapped a powerful shot in from the edge of the box (36'). A superb strike from Kamory Doumbia levelled matters early in the second half (51') as Still's men took control of the match, never to let it go. Their ten-match streak looked in danger as in-form [Lorient](https://www.ligue1.com/clubs?id=fc-lorient) came calling at the Stade Auguste-Delaune on Wednesday, but a star turn from Folarin Balogun more than turned the tide. Igor Tudor's men dominated their hosts, but it wasn't until just before the hour-mark that their pressure paid off. The 21-year-old striker is going from strength to strength. [Angers SCO](https://www.ligue1.com/clubs?id=angers-sco), who fell to an 18th defeat of the season as visiting [Ajaccio](https://www.ligue1.com/clubs?id=ac-ajaccio) came from behind for the 2-1 shot in the arm for the survival hopes. [OM](https://www.ligue1.com/clubs?id=olympique-de-marseille) midfielder [Azzedine Ounahi](https://www.ligue1.com/player?id=azz-eddine-ounahi) had a debut to remember as Les Olympiens made the long - and ultimately victorious - trip to [Nantes](https://www.ligue1.com/clubs?id=fc-nantes). [Thijs Dallinga](https://www.ligue1.com/player?id=thijs-jacco-jan-dallinga) was at it again on Wednesday, striking (16') to pave the way for a fourth win in an unbeaten run of five for Philippe Montanier's side. [Junya Ito](https://www.ligue1.com/player?id=junya-ito) conjured a trademark cross - which was cut out at the last minute - but Balogun pounced with a first-time shot that enjoyed a brief appointment with the post before crashing into the back of the net to give Reims the lead for the first time in the match (61'). After scoring a late equaliser away to PSG in Round 20, Balogun showed plenty of confidence as he hit his penalty up the middle (44') and keen positioning and finishing skills when he followed up with a pair of first-time finishes in the space of three minutes (61', 64').

On-loan Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is currently the top scorer in Ligue 1 with Stade de Reims; the 21-year-old scored a hat-trick against Lorient on ...

"You can see how he is developing," said Arteta in March of last year when Balogun was in the Championship. "I didn't know the language and I'm still trying to learn - but for me it's important to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. It is a major step up from the striker who only managed three goals in 18 Championship games for Middlesbrough last season. Every Arsenal youngster who is thriving at the moment has suffered an early blow. The unknown striker was thrust into the Arsenal starting XI on the opening day loss at Brentford due to a coronavirus outbreak that ruled out Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. "Only right I show my respect," tweeted the 21-year-old that evening.

Arsenal news: Folarin Balogun has impressed on loan at Reims in France and the young striker netted a hat-trick on Wednesday to shoot to the top of the ...

"He has continually shown his natural ability in many training sessions with us and we have been equally impressed with his early integration into the first-team squad on matchdays. I realised there were certain things I would struggle with, but I think that’s a good thing. "There, I learned always to push my limits. "I think by the time I go back I’ll be in a better place to compete than I was before I left. Reims manager Will Still was full of praise for Balogun after his last-gasp equaliser against PSG at the weekend: “He is a super complete striker, he is able to play with his back to goal, in depth,” said Still. “It is technically very clean.

Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun has flourished away from the Emirates with Reims this term after heeding advice from his former Gunners team-mate ...

The 31-year-old is also in Ligue 1 at Lyon - and he [predicted that Balogun would be a hit in France](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/balogun-transfer-reims-arsenal-lacazette-27921826) long before he returned to his old club. [Join the debate!](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-folarin-balogun-arteta-lacazette-29112409#comments-section) Would you like to see Balogun back at Arsenal next season? Maybe he should become my agent as well because he has a great knowledge of football!" But Balogun has flourished in France with Reims this term. I think he is doing all of that really well." He needed a pathway, he needs that exposure. [plundered a stunning hat-trick on Wednesday night](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-balogun-mbappe-psg-reims-29110264) to propel himself to the top of the Ligue 1 scoring ranks ahead of the likes of [Kylian Mbappe](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/kylian-mbappe) and [Lionel Messi.](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/lionel-messi) [Alexandre Lacazette](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/alexandre-lacazette) was a big influence for Balogun at Arsenal before he left the club at the end of his contract in the summer. This is going to give us more detail about what is the next best move for him to keep developing because he has developed and we want him to be part of our future. [across the channel with Reims.](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/folarin-balogun-reims-arsenal-arteta-27964278) [Middlesbrough,](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/middlesbrough-fc) the 21-year-old was challenged to "develop as a man" by Arteta, who admitted that the club should have arranged a loan move for the youngster before his temporary switch to Teeside last year. [Arsenal](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/arsenal-fc) have enjoyed a dream season so far under [Mikel Arteta](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/mikel-arteta) - and the same can be said for one of their fledgling Hale End graduates, Folarin Balogun.

Arsenal star Folarin Balogun has more goals on loan in France than Kylian Mbappe – now he might force Arsenal into rethinking their entire trajectory.

An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also been to the FA Cup and League Cup finals for FFT and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. The last time Arsenal had an interest in a player this prolific in France, And if Balogun's trajectory is anything like Nketiah's, he could become one of the deadliest forwards in England sooner rather than later. He's netted a last-minute winner against [PSG](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/psg), a hat-trick against [Lorient](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/lorient) and with three nations vying for his citizenship, he might have big decisions to make at both club and international level. Gabriel Martinelli has a similar frame and strength to his game and he's re-invented himself under Arteta as a touchline winger, who can break into the box to score goals, dovetailing with Jesus, who drifts out of the penalty box a lot. Saka has played right and left, while Nketiah has played on the left. Jesus has only played as a No.9 for Arsenal but featured on both flanks for Manchester City, while Martinelli has played in all three forward positions, too. But really, Balogun might not end up as a centre-forward. The search ended with a more experienced acquisition in Leandro Trossard – who can play on either wing, at wing-back or in midfield. Arsenal now have six options in their three-man attack: Trossard joins Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson. Pedro Neto was on the list but too expensive, while Rafael Leao, Moussa Diaby and Yeremy Pino were all touted before Mudryk. When Arsenal sent Folarin Balogun on loan to Stade Reims, few eyebrows were raised.

No one has scored more goals in Ligue 1 than Folarin Balogun this season, not even Kylian Mbappe, Leo Messi or Neymar. American by birth, but a naturalised ...

England and USA national teams will be fighting for him. Despite playing little in the Premier League, his influence on Reims is noticeable, as he now has characteristics that place him among the most exciting No.9s in French football. American by birth, but a naturalised English citizen, he has so far scored 14 league goals for Stade Reims.

On Saturday, Arsenal can stretch their advantage to eight points with victory at Everton. Across the Channel, meanwhile, a foreign envoy continues to douse ...

William Saliba used Ligue 1 loans as a springboard to the Arsenal first team. Not long ago, Balogun had a sore hamstring and asked to see Arsenal’s physio. He challenged the forward to score 10 goals. Balogun joined Arsenal aged 10 and signed a new deal in 2021. Folarin Balogun, on loan at Stade de Reims, has muscled his way above Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi to the summit of France’s scoring charts. No wonder minds are drifting to what comes next — for Balogun, Arsenal and the striker’s international prospects.