Arsenal face fresh competition to sign Jeremy Monga as 'Man City plot transfer hijack'

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Evening Standard

·2. Juli 2026

Arsenal face fresh competition to sign Jeremy Monga as 'Man City plot transfer hijack'

Leicester winger has been subject to transfer interest from a number of Premier League clubs

Manchester City have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Leicester starlet Jeremy Monga.

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Standard Sport reported last month that Arsenal were expected to reach an agreement to sign the 16-year-old winger in a deal worth around £10m, but their chances of doing so have now been knocked.

Per BBC Sport, City have long since held an interest in the player, and have made enquiries into signing him this week.

While Arsenal’s negotiations are the most advanced of any interested club - Brentford are also said to be keen - though City may move quickly to wrap up a deal. Further reporting from Fabrizio Romano suggests new City head coach Enzo Maresca has been involved in talks as the club look to turn Monga’s head.

Jeremy Monga was a first-team regular for Leicester as they were relegated from the Championship last season

Monga is currently on scholarship terms at Leicester which will turn professional on July 10.

Due to turn 17 this month, Monga is the third-youngest man to ever make an appearance in the Premier League, after Arsenal’s Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri.

He was just 15 when he played his first Premier League minutes in a 3-0 defeat by Newcastle.

The Coventry-born Monga, an experienced England youth international also eligible to represent Zambia, became a first-team regular at Leicester in the 2025/26 campaign, scoring one goal and assisting a further two in 27 Championship appearances.

His sole goal, which came against Preston North End, established him as Leicester’s youngest-ever scorer.

Arsenal are expected to enjoy a busy summer in the transfer market, with Morgan Rogers tipped as their flagship target. Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola are also said to be of interest.