Latest news with #Balogun
The Herald Scotland
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Connor Goldson admits delight at reunion with ex-Rangers man
They played together in both of Rangers' recent cup triumphs - in the 2022 Scottish Cup win over Hearts and the League Cup victory against Aberdeen a year later. And Goldson believes the arrival of Balogun can help them go one better than last season where Aris finished runners-up to Pafos FC in the Cypriot League. Read more: He said: "Leon's arrival is great for me and the club. He is a good, experienced defender. "We needed a new defender and he will fit in really well to Aris. "He has lots of experience and he is a leader and he will do really well I'm sure. I am sure he will help us both in the league and in Europe. "Last season, we broke our record for the most points we have ever collected, but it still wasn't enough to win the title."This season I want to go one better. "I really like it here. The football is really good and my family love it on the island."
The National
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Connor Goldson admits delight at reunion with ex-Rangers man
The pair will be reunited at Aris Limassol for the new season after the 36-year-old Nigerian international joined Goldson, 32, on the Mediterranean island. They played together in both of Rangers' recent cup triumphs - in the 2022 Scottish Cup win over Hearts and the League Cup victory against Aberdeen a year later. And Goldson believes the arrival of Balogun can help them go one better than last season where Aris finished runners-up to Pafos FC in the Cypriot League. Read more: He said: "Leon's arrival is great for me and the club. He is a good, experienced defender. "We needed a new defender and he will fit in really well to Aris. "He has lots of experience and he is a leader and he will do really well I'm sure. I am sure he will help us both in the league and in Europe. "Last season, we broke our record for the most points we have ever collected, but it still wasn't enough to win the title."This season I want to go one better. "I really like it here. The football is really good and my family love it on the island."
Scottish Sun
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘Always a Ranger' – Gers hero spotted wearing retro kit on birthday as he moves on from ‘sad' exit alongside glam Wag
LEON BALOGUN might not be a Rangers player anymore but he isn't shy in showing his ongoing love for the club. The defender's second Ibrox spell came to an end last month and he admitted he was disappointed at not being able to say goodbye. 4 Leon Balogun left Rangers in May Credit: Willie Vass 4 NINTCHDBPICT001006805037 Credit: INSTAGRAM 4 NINTCHDBPICT001006805035 Credit: INSTAGRAM Balogun had an initial stint at Rangers between 2020 and 2022, forming part of the side that won the Scottish Premiership title in 2021. He was gutted to leave the club first time around but after just one season at QPR, Balogun returned to the Gers under Michael Beale. While he was never a regular, the Nigeria international continued to be a reliable and steady operator when called upon and many fans felt he had done enough to earn a new contract. But in the days following the end of last season, heartbroken Balogun took to social media to reveal he was leaving the club. He was particularly disappointed not to have been able to say a proper farewell to the supporters. Balogun said: "If I would have known that the last two games of the season were my last for the club I would have made sure to say goodbye to all of you accordingly. "Unfortunately I wasn't afforded that opportunity which saddens me as I would have liked to have walked round Ibrox one last time and returned all the love and support you've given me during my two stints." Balogun would go on to refer to Rangers as "my club" and said it had become "family" and insisted he would be returning to Ibrox in the future as a fan. And becoming a Rangers fan certainly appears to be what's happened! Balogun celebrated his 37th birthday a few days ago. Rangers star Leon Balogun faces fan fury after Celtic defeat as defender applauded by fans for being the 'only one' And although he's now found a new club in Aris Limassol, Rangers were at the front of his mind! The former Brighton and Wigan defender's glamorous model girlfriend Mayara Zamboni shared a series of pictures from Belogun's birthday celebrations on Instagram. The snaps show Balogun wearing a retro Rangers top on his big day, showing he clearly still has the club close to his heart. The top he's wearing is the away kit from the 1999/2000 season, featuring white, navy blue and sky blue, as well as a navy blue collar. Manufactured by Nike, it was a kit worn during a memorable campaign for the Gers who won both the SPL title and Scottish Cup under Dick Advocaat. In one image, Balogun and Mayara can be seen smiling together, although her post "see you soon" suggests he was either heading or soon to head off to his new club in Cyprus to begin pre-season training. 4 A second picture shows Balogun blowing out the candles on his birthday cake, the candles taking the form of his age, 37, as well as his name along the bottom. On seeing the pictures, one fan wrote: "Special player and always a Ranger." While Balogun was wearing a Rangers top here, he'll soon be forming a somewhat retro Rangers defence too at Aris! That's because his switch to the Cypriot club sees him link up with Connor Goldson, who was his centre-back partner at Ibrox too during his two spells at the club. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mirror
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Pogba to join ex-Arsenal star praised by Henry and who hit out at England snub
Paul Pogba has reportedly agreed a two-year deal with Monaco and that would see the ex-Manchester United midfielder link up with former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun Paul Pogba is reportedly about to join Monaco after spending nearly two years away from football due to a doping ban, with the former Manchester United and Juventus star set to link up with ex-Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun. Pogba was initially given a four-year ban after testing positive for the banned substance DHEA, but that was reduced to 18 months after he won an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He was free to play again in March, but has yet to join a new club after his contract with Juventus was terminated in November. French outlet Le Parisien have reported that Pogba is close to signing a two-year contract with Monaco, having made 'significant financial sacrifices' in order to agree a deal. However, when asked about his future on Sergio Aguero's podcast La Casa del Kun, Pogba said: "I haven't signed anything, but there's interest. We'll see." If Pogba does end up joining Monaco, he will count a number of fellow former Premier League players as team-mates. This includes Balogun, who joined Monaco from Arsenal back in 2023. The 23-year-old enjoyed a decent debut campaign, netting eight goals in 32 games across all competitions, but struggled with injury problems last season that limited him to just seven starts. However, Balogun is a proven goalscorer in Ligue 1 after netting 21 goals in 37 games during a loan spell at Reims. Balogun later stated that he decided to go to France because he wanted to step out of his comfort zone and challenge himself, with the decision earning him praise from former Arsenal and Monaco star Thierry Henry. "I'm really happy for him because in general English players don't go abroad – normally players are loaned either to another Premier League side or in the Championship," Henry said on Prime Video in 2022. "He's a very English-style player who likes to run down the channels but he was missing something, which was his finishing. He's now starting to score goals regularly and I'm happy for that, happy he has gone abroad. "It's especially so considering he is a Londoner – in general Londoners struggle to leave London. When I heard he was coming to France, it made me think he has a refreshing mindset." Balogun was born in America, but grew up in London after emigrating to England when he was just two-years-old. He joined Arsenal's academy at the age of 10 and represented both England and the US at age group level before ultimately deciding to play for America at senior level. And his decision to declare for America came after he was left out of Gareth Southgate's first England squad for 2023, despite his impressive form for Reims. After the squad was announced, Balogun appeared to take aim at England as he posted on Instagram: "In life, go where you're appreciated. Be easy." Just a few months later, it was announced that he had committed to the US and he has been ever-present for them since, although he is yet to make an appearance under Mauricio Pochettino due to his recent injury struggles.
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Ex-Rangers star links up with former team-mate Connor Goldson in surprise move to Cyprus
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEON BALOGUN has signed a one-year deal with Cypriot club Aris Limassol and will link up again with former Ibrox defensive partner Connor Goldson. The veteran Nigerian international was released this summer after ending his second spell at Ibrox. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 Leon Balogun left Rangers for a second time this summer Credit: SNS 2 Now he's starting the next chapter of his career alongside an old team mate Credit: Willie Vass And the 36-year-old has opted for a surprise move to Cyprus with league runners-up Aris. The club stated: "He is a footballer who has played in the top leagues of the English Premier League and the German Bundesliga, as well as the 2018 World Cup. "He made a total of 114 appearances for Rangers over two spells, during which he won a league title, a Scottish Cup and a League Cup. "We wish him every success at the club." Balogun and Goldson played together in both of Rangers' recent cup triumphs - in the 2022 Scottish Cup win over Hearts and the League Cup victory against Aberdeen a year later. Goldson, 32, made 22 starts for Aris in the Cypriot League since his arrival from Glasgow. Balogun was mentioned in connection with a move to Aris last week. And all parties were able to work out a deal quickly. Balogun was gutted to not be kept on at Rangers after the regime change, with the new American ownership group led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises deeming him surplus to requirements. He opened up on how sad it was to leave the club - particularly because he wasn't given a chance to say goodbye to the fans. Rangers-daft pub goes up for sale in Scots town Balogun said on Instagram: "It's that time again. "No caption could summarise all that is going through my mind as I'm writing these lines. "It's been nothing short of an honour, a pleasure and a great, great privilege to represent this massive club - twice! "So many memories, good ones as well as a few tough ones. "But it's the latter especially that made my love for the club grow even stronger. "The moments when we all stuck together and went again - no matter the disappointment or frustration. In these moments the club revealed what makes it most special: YOU. "The people supporting us week in week out, near and far, demanding, expecting, pushing us to do better and go for glory. "The people working for the club behind the scenes, meeting us with a smile everyday, doing their absolute best to contribute to the success of the club in their own way. You're the heartbeat of the club and it's been an honour to represent you! "If I would have known that the last two games of the season were my last for the club I would have made sure to say goodbye to all of you accordingly. "Unfortunately I wasn't afforded that opportunity which saddens me as I would have liked to have walked round Ibrox one last time and returned all the love and support you've given me during my 2 stints. "I don't know when I'll be back, but I promise I won't be a stranger. "Thank you for making me feel at home and appreciated wherever we met. "You've become more than just my club, you've become family. "And for that I will be forever grateful." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
