Reims have confirmed the signing of Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun on a season-long loan move.
The England Under-21 international made fleeting appearances in the Gunners first team under Mikel Arteta last year but was behind Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the pecking order.
Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus are set to fight it out for starts at the tip of Arsenal's attack this term, which would have restricted Balogun's opportunities further.
As a result, the 21-year-old will hope to gain more first-team experience on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims and arrives as a replacement for Hugo Ekitike.
Ekitike signed for Paris Saint-Germain on an initial loan deal earlier in the summer window, and there is an option to make his stay permanent for €35m (£29.3m).
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However, Balogun's loan move to Reims does not include an option or obligation to buy, and he will return to Arsenal for the 2023-24 season.
Balogun - who will wear the number 29 shirt at Reims - spent the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan at Middlesbrough, recording three goals and three assists in 18 Championship games.
The youngster had only made four first-team appearances for Arsenal in the first half of the campaign, as well as scoring 13 goals in 11 Premier League 2 appearances for the Under-23s.
Balogun arrived at the Hale End academy all the way back in 2011 and has since earned 10 senior appearances for the Gunners, scoring twice and providing one assist in the Europa League.
With his Arsenal contract due to expire in the summer of 2023, Balogun's long-term future is still up for debate if his path into the Arsenal first team continues to be blocked.
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Balogun follows a number of youngsters to leave on loan this summer, with Marcelo Flores, Tyreece John-Jules, Mika Biereth and Omar Rekik also heading out on temporary deals.
Midfield starlet Charlie Patino is also reported to be closing in on a season-long switch to Blackpool, and Arteta's side are set for a busy period of senior outgoings this month.
Bernd Leno's move to Fulham in an £8m deal has now been confirmed, while Lucas Torreira is being strongly linked with a £7.5m move to Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Pablo Mari is supposedly in talks over a return to Serie A with Monza, while Alexandre Lacazette, Dinos Mavropanos, Matteo Guendouzi and Omari Hutchinson have already moved on to pastures new this summer.
Ben Knapton
