Jeremy Monga: Arsenal transfer blow as 'Man City complete hijack' to sign wonderkid | OneFootball

Highly-rated Leicester talent made Premier League debut at 15 and was of interest to various top clubs

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 Arsenal are understood to have withdrawn their interest after being put off by Leicester’s asking price.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.

Jeremy Monga is set to join Manchester City

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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.