Club fought off competition from Arsenal; Monga third youngest player to make Premier League debut
Manchester City have agreed a deal with Leicester City to sign the teenage forward Jeremy Monga for an initial £10m, with a further £2.5m in potential add-ons and a sell-on clause included in the agreement.
The 16-year-old had attracted interest from several leading clubs, but City moved quickly to complete the transfer after Arsenal decided against matching Leicester’s valuation.
Enzo Maresca, who took charge of City this summer, is understood to have played a key role in the pursuit after working with Monga during his spell as Leicester manager in the 2023-24 season.
Monga emerged as one of English football’s brightest young prospects after becoming the third-youngest player to appear in the Premier League. He made his debut aged 15 years and 271 days and went on to make seven substitute appearances during Leicester’s relegation from the top flight in the 2024-25 season. Only Arsenal’s Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri made their Premier League debuts at a younger age.
He featured more regularly last season as Leicester returned to the Championship, making 30 appearances, mostly from the bench, and contributing one goal and two assists. Leicester suffered a second successive relegation after a six-point deduction for breaching the English Football League’s profitability and sustainability rules covering the three-year period ending in 2023-24.
City’s move follows growing interest in Monga over the past year, with Real Madrid and Chelsea also monitoring the England youth international.
Leicester strengthened their position in negotiations by agreeing a one-year scholarship with Monga last July. The deal is due to convert into his first professional contract when he turns 17 on 10 July, ensuring any club wishing to sign him had to negotiate a transfer fee rather than pay a reduced compensation amount.
Monga is regarded as one of the country’s leading young attacking talents, although there remains room for development in both his defensive work and decision-making in the final third. His pace, technical ability and attacking potential have made him one of the most sought-after teenagers in English football.
The transfer is expected to be completed once the remaining formalities are finalised. Monga will continue his development in City’s academy system before competing for a place in Maresca’s first-team plans.
