Henry sends Balogun transfer message that will divide Arsenal fans

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 19 May 2023 18:16 BST
• 3 min read

Thierry Henry has urged rising Arsenal star Folarin Balogun to find a club where he will get regular playing time.

The striker has enjoyed a fine loan spell on loan at Reims this season – his first sustained taste of top-level football – scoring 20 goals for the Ligue 1 side in all competitions.

It remains to be seen whether Balogun’s future lies at Arsenal or elsewhere – but, for Gunners legend Henry, the USA international is about to reach a pivotal point in his development.

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Henry – who won two Premier League titles with Arsenal, where he is all-time record goalscorer – told CBS Sports: “Now, for him [Balogun], it’s going to be important next season to play.

Balogun recently opted to represent the USA at senior international level – and Henry touched on the competition the 21-year-old faced for England selection. The France icon continued:

“I don’t know if he’s going to play for Arsenal. We all know for the national team with England, he had to battle with Callum Wilson, [Ivan] Toney, Ollie Watkins, Tammy Abraham [and] Harry Kane.

“He’s been great in the league. He’s a good [number] nine. Now, he’s going to have to find a team where he’s going to play next year; that’s very important.”

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Where next for one of Arsenal's own?

Balogun – who has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €23.6m – is under contract at Arsenal until the end the summer of 2025.

Born in New York, he moved to England aged two and progressed through the Gunners’ youth system.

He’s featured 10 times for his parent club in all, making his first-team in a 2020 Europa League game against Dundalk.