​Manchester City appear to have delivered an early blow to Arsenal by agreeing a £12.5 million deal to sign 17-year-old Jeremy Monga from Leicester City. Not content with battling for the top trophies in England, the two clubs are now competing for the country’s brightest young talents, and City look to have emerged ahead once again, though the deal still requires finalization.
Premier League champions Arsenal had been leading the chase and in a strong position to seal Monga’s signature, but BBC Sport reported strong interest from City last week, and the Gunners were ultimately outmuscled at the finish line by their rivals. Brentford had also shown interest, yet City have secured the agreement with Leicester, who are set to lose one of their promising stars following relegation to League One.
Monga had agreed to a one-year scholarship contract at the King Power Stadium, which will convert into a professional deal on his 17th birthday this Friday, meaning any interested party would need to pay a transfer fee for the teenager. While £12.5 million is a sizable sum for a 17-year-old, it is not without precedent. Tottenham spent £30 million to sign 18-year-old Archie Gray from Leeds in 2024, Manchester United paid £27 million to acquire 18-year-old Luke Shaw from Southampton 12 years ago, and Arsenal once spent up to £12.5 million on 16-year-old Theo Walcott from Southampton in 2006. It is understood that City have long harbored an interest in Monga, but the move has accelerated under new manager Enzo Maresca, who previously worked with the teenager during his season in charge at Leicester.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be left feeling frustrated and frustrated, wondering how his side were outmaneuvered by City, as a deal to sign Monga appeared to be nearing completion. City’s pursuit of the Leicester youngster has now become part of a broader race for his signature, with the club reportedly stepping up efforts to secure the deal under Maresca’s guidance.
Monga became Leicester’s youngest starter last August at 16 years and 34 days when he appeared in the Carabao Cup first-round defeat on penalties by Huddersfield. An England youth international, the winger tends to operate from the left flank but can cut in from the right, and his two-footed ability makes him a versatile option. In total, he made 37 appearances for the Foxes, including seven appearances as a substitute in the Premier League. He made his top-flight debut under former Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy against Newcastle in April 2025, coming on for the final 16 minutes in the 3-0 loss at St James’ Park. He currently sits as the third-youngest player to feature in the competition, behind Arsenal’s Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri.
Reflecting on his first taste of top-flight football, 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, and I had to switch on. I feel like I did all right; there is always room for improvement.” Now, with the possibility of a high-profile move to Manchester City, Monga has the chance to take his burgeoning talent to the next level. Although the transfer is not yet finalized, City’s early bid signals an intent to secure a promising future asset and continue their strategy of investing in young players who could shape the club’s path in years to come.