Manchester City have won the race to sign Leicester starlet Jeremy Monga, successfully hijacking Arsenal’s move.
The Gunners were in talks to sign the 16-year-old and Standard Sport reported last month that they were confident of completing a deal to bring him to north London.
But City threw their name into the hat this week, winning over the player and promptly agreeing a deal with Leicester for his transfer. Arsenal are understood to have withdrawn their interest after being put off by Leicester’s asking price.
Monga will move for a £12.5m package comprising of a £10m up-front payment and a further £2.5m in add-ons. Leicester have also negotiated a sell-on clause.
New Man City coach Enzo Maresca, who knows Monga from his own time managing Leicester in the 2023/24 campaign, is said to have played a role in negotiations, selling the player on a long-term project.
Monga agreed scholarship terms at Leicester last summer, signing a one-year deal which will expire when he turns 17 on July 10. That deal means he cannot move clubs without a transfer fee being agreed.
It remains to be seen whether Monga will join Maresca’s first-team, City’s development squad, or be sent out on loan for the 2026/27 campaign. He will hope to remind the Italian of his capabilities in pre-season.
He is the third-youngest Premier League player ever, debuting at just 15 years and 271 days old, with only Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri doing so at a younger age.
Monga has also regularly represented England throughout the youth ranks, and is the youngest senior goalscorer in Leicester’s history.
