Man City agree £12.5m deal to sign Jeremy Monga ahead of Arsenal | OneFootball

Manchester City have agreed a £12.5 million deal with Leicester City to sign teenage forward Jeremy Monga, according to The Athletic.

City beat off competition from Arsenal, who had also explored a move for the 16-year-old before stepping away over valuation concerns.

The agreement is understood to be worth £12.5m in total, structured as £10m up front with another £2.5m in performance-related add-ons and contingencies.

Newly appointed Man City manager Enzo Maresca has been instrumental in pushing the move.

The Italian tactician previously worked with Monga at Leicester during the 2023/24 season and still holds him in high regard.

Monga earmarked himself as one of England’s most coveted teenage prospects after making seven Premier League appearances for Leicester.

He featured regularly in the Championship last season, despite the club suffering another relegation, bagging a goal and two assists in 27 appearances.

Monga will formally join City upon turning 17 on July 10, when his scholarship deal becomes a professional contract.

Leicester’s decision to secure scholarship terms last year ensured they received a sizeable transfer fee rather than minimal compensation.

The move ends long-standing interest from several European clubs, including Real Madrid and Chelsea, who had monitored Monga’s progress through Leicester’s academy and under-21 set-up.

Monga arrives at City as a high-ceiling wide forward whose profile fits the club’s long-term recruitment model.

Primarily right-footed, he thrives when isolated with defenders, driving at full-backs and attempting frequent take-ons to destabilise defensive structures.

His willingness to play aggressively in the final third, combined with improving decision-making after dribbling, makes him a standout talent.

However, he still needs to improve his consistency, end product, final pass and defensive discipline when tracking back in transition.

Under Maresca and City’s elite development environment, Monga can iron out those weaknesses