Manchester City have agreed a £12.5m deal to sign 17-year-old Jeremy Monga from Leicester City, beating Arsenal to one of English football’s most exciting young talents.
Premier League champions Arsenal were leading the race and considered close to completing a deal before City swooped to gazump their title rivals at the final moment.
Brentford were also in contention for the teenager, but it is City who have won the battle to secure Monga’s signature from the relegated Foxes.
Monga had agreed to a one-year scholarship contract at King Power Stadium, which converts into a professional deal on his 17th birthday this Friday, making a transfer fee payable.
While £12.5m is a significant sum for a teenager, it is not without precedent in English football, with Tottenham spending £30m on 18-year-old Archie Gray from Leeds in 2024.
Manchester United paid £27m for 18-year-old Luke Shaw from Southampton 12 years ago, and Arsenal themselves spent up to £12.5m on 16-year-old Theo Walcott from Southampton back in 2006.
City’s interest in Monga is longstanding, but the move has accelerated under new manager Enzo Maresca, who worked with the winger during his season in charge at Leicester.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be bitterly disappointed, left wondering how his side were outmanoeuvred by City when a deal appeared close to being finalised.
Monga made history last August when he became Leicester’s youngest-ever starter, aged 16 years and 34 days, in a Carabao Cup defeat on penalties by Huddersfield.
The England youth international predominantly plays from the left wing but can operate on either flank and is comfortable with both feet across his 37 appearances for Leicester.
Former Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy handed Monga his Premier League debut against Newcastle in April 2025, playing the final 16 minutes of a 3-0 defeat at St James’ Park.
He currently stands as the third-youngest player to appear in the Premier League, behind Arsenal duo Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri, a remarkable achievement for a player so young.
Reflecting on his top-flight bow, Monga said: “It was a crazy experience. At first I was obviously nervous but when I got onto the pitch all the nerves went away as I had to switch on.”
He added: “I feel like I did all right, I could have done better. There is always room for improvement.”
Whether Monga joins City’s first-team setup or begins in the academy remains unclear, though pre-season tours often provide young players a route into senior consideration.
Callum Powell of CP Coaching Academy, who worked with Monga in one-to-one sessions while the player was at Coventry City aged 11, offered an illuminating insight into his character.
“Initially, Jeremy was quite a reserved character, but he goes about himself in the correct way,” Powell told BBC Sport. “He conducts himself well and he is very polite and well mannered.”
Powell identified Monga’s dribbling and ball manipulation as standout qualities, describing his technical ability as well above what is typically seen at his age group.
“His footwork, agility and technical ability is superior from most players of his age,” Powell said. “The way he shifts while at high speed is quite a rare trait to possess.”
Powell drew a striking comparison between Monga and England striker Ivan Toney, whom Powell grew up playing alongside at Northampton through the academy and scholars programme.
“Jeremy is similar to Ivan, the mentality is just different to others,” Powell said. “He is not fazed, he doesn’t feel the pressure, in fact he is motivated by the pressure. That is the biggest thing.”
Powell concluded with confidence in Monga’s future, saying: “I have no doubt that he will go on to achieve great things there and it is an unbelievable move for him.”
