Club’s pursuit has been driven by head coach Enzo Maresca, who worked with Monga at Leicester
Manchester City are close to completing the signing of Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga in a deal worth about £10m after Arsenal ended their interest in the teenager.
The clubs are in direct talks over the transfer, with City now in a strong position to secure one of England’s most highly rated young players. Arsenal had also held discussions with Leicester but decided not to proceed after the Championship club’s valuation exceeded their expectations.
City’s pursuit has been driven by their manager, Enzo Maresca, who worked with Monga during his spell in charge of Leicester and is understood to have played a key role in the club’s interest.
Monga became one of the Premier League’s youngest-ever players when he made his debut against Newcastle United in April 2025 at the age of 15 years and 271 days. Only Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri have appeared in the competition at a younger age.
The winger made seven substitute appearances as Leicester were relegated from the Premier League in 2024-25 before featuring 30 times, mostly from the bench, during the following campaign as the club suffered a second successive relegation and dropped into League One.
Interest in Monga has been building for some time. His performances for Leicester’s Under-21 side attracted attention from several leading European clubs, including Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Leicester strengthened their position last summer when Monga agreed a one-year scholarship that is due to convert into a professional contract when he turns 17. The agreement ensured any club seeking to sign him would have to negotiate a transfer fee rather than pay a lower compensation amount.
The club’s financial position has also changed following their six-point deduction for breaching the English Football League’s profitability and sustainability rules covering the three-year period ending in 2023-24. Leicester will play in the third tier for the first time since the 2008-09 season.
Leicester have previously earned praise for developing and retaining academy talent, but recent years have seen several highly rated youngsters leave, including Trey Nyoni, who joined Liverpool, and Tyrese Noubissie, who moved to Manchester City.
Monga now appears set to become the latest academy prospect to leave the King Power Stadium.
