Arsenal sends Nigeria-eligible striker Folarin Balogun out on loan to French side Reims

ENGLISH Premier League giants Arsenal have sent Nigeria-eligible striker Folarin Balogun out on a season-long loan to French Le Championet side Stade de Reims for the duration of the 2002/03 campaign.

 

Balogun, 21,  is a Hale End Academy graduate who recently signed a new long-term contract that will keep him at the Emirates Stadium for the foreseeable future. Of Nigerian descent and born in New York City, Balogun is also eligible to represent the US as well as England and Nigeria.

 

In June this year, however, England manager Gareth Southgate invited him to train with the Three Lions senior squad. Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officials are believed to have been keeping an eye on him and it appears that to forestall any bid, Mr Southgate has invited him to camp.

 

Last year, Folarin signed a new long-term contract that will keep him at the Emirates Stadium for the foreseeable future. To enable him get playing time, however, the club loaned him to Middlesbrough in the English Championship in the second half of last season ande are now sending him to Reims.

 

Reims,  six-time French champions announced Folarin's arrival yesterday, saying he came without an option to buy included in the deal. Reims need to reinforce their attacking options following the transfer of their top scorer last season Hugo Ekitike, to Paris Saint-Germain and the Arsenal striker has been chosen by the club's management.

 

Folarin has been assigned the number 29 jersey at Reims, who wear the famous red-and-white strip, the same as the colours worn by Arsenal. Reacting to his transfer, Balogun posted on Twitter: "A different red and white but same commitment."

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