USMNT striker Folarin Balogun set to be sidelined for four months at AS Monaco due to shoulder surgery

U.S. international forward Folarin Balogun is set to be sidelined for four months due a shoulder injury, Monaco manager Adi Hutter has confirmed.

In early October, the U.S. international dislocated his shoulder in a match against Stade Rennais, ruling him out until the end of November, when he returned in a UEFA Champions League match against Benfica and a regular season match against Marseille days later. Continuing to feel discomfort, though, the 23-year-old and the French club made the decision to undergo surgery last week.

After a successful operation, it's now been revealed that he will be sidelined into March at the earliest.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday ahead of their match against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, Hutter confirmed that they will be missing Balogun for the extended stretch.

As a result of his recent injuries, the striker has yet to appear under USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino yet, either. As things stand, it appears he will miss the CONCACAF Nations League Finals this Spring -- and may not be able to debut under the Argentine in competitive fashion until the Gold Cup this summer.

Balogun has made just seven appearances in 2024-25 in Ligue 1, scoring three goals. At Copa America 2024 last summer, he scored twice in three matches for the USMNT.

The American will undergo a long period of recovery through the start of the new year, with a hope of returning to the pitch in early April. Until then, Monaco will be relying on teenage forward George Ilenikhena and Swiss veteran Breel Embolo up top.