Quick Scoop

Folarin Balogun was born in Brooklyn, New York , but he grew up in London, England.

Where Did Folarin Balogun Grew Up?

The Short Answer

Folarin Balogun grew up in London, United Kingdom. He moved there as a baby and spent his entire childhood and youth there.

The Brooklyn Birth Story

  • Balogun was born on July 3, 2001 in Brooklyn, New York.
  • His parents, Florence and Ben Balogun , are Nigerian and were living in London at the time.
  • His mother was visiting family in New York while seven months pregnant and planned to return to London before giving birth.
  • Airline staff refused to let her board the return flight because of her advanced pregnancy, so she stayed in Brooklyn and gave birth there.
  • That “accidental” birth in the U.S. made him a U.S. citizen by birthright.

Growing Up in London

  • The family returned to London just weeks after his birth, and he was raised there from about two months old.
  • He grew up in Hoxton/Hale End areas linked to Arsenal’s youth system and joined Arsenal’s Hale End academy at age 8.
  • He spent 15 years with Arsenal’s youth setup, developing in England’s football culture before moving on to other clubs.

When asked where he’s from, Balogun himself has said:

“London, definitely. That’s where I grew up, where I spent most of my youth, and where my career started.”

Triple Nationality and Identity

Because of his birth and upbringing, Balogun is eligible to play for:

  • United States – by birth in Brooklyn
  • England – by growing up and being naturalized there
  • Nigeria – through his Nigerian parents (Yoruba heritage).

He ultimately chose to represent the U.S. men’s national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he became a standout striker.

Summary Table

Aspect| Detail
---|---
Birthplace| Brooklyn, New York, USA
Birth date| July 3, 2001
Where he grew up| London, England
Age moved to London| About 1–2 months old
Youth football academy| Arsenal Hale End (joined at age 8)
Nationality eligibility| USA (birth), England (residence), Nigeria (parents)
Current national team| United States (USMNT)

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.