Manchester City have won the race to sign 17-year-old winger Jeremy Monga from Leicester City, agreeing a £12.5m fee and beating Arsenal to the highly rated teenager. The deal was confirmed on Monday, with Monga becoming City's first major signing of the summer transfer window.
Maresca Connection Key to Deal
City head coach Enzo Maresca played a pivotal role in the transfer, having worked with Monga during his promotion-winning season at Leicester City in 2023-24. Maresca's familiarity with the youngster's abilities helped convince Monga that the Etihad Stadium was the right destination for his development.
Monga, who turned 17 on Friday, has been with Leicester since the age of eight. He is a versatile winger capable of playing on either flank and has represented England at various youth levels, including the Under-19s.
Monga's Dream Move
“When I became aware that Manchester City were interested, I knew instantly this was the right choice for me,” Monga told the Manchester City website. “For any young footballer, to become part of this amazing club is a dream come true.”
He added: “This has been the best club in England over the past 10 years. And it has also handed opportunities to players from the academy like Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly which shows that the pathway is there. It is a privilege to be here and I’m delighted to have joined.”
Record-Breaking Prodigy
Monga is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in English football. In April 2025, at 15 years and 271 days old, he became the second-youngest player to make his Premier League debut. Last August, aged 16 and 34 days, he became the youngest player to start a game for Leicester. Three days later, he scored against Preston to become the Championship's youngest goalscorer, breaking the record previously held by Jude Bellingham.
The £12.5m fee reflects City's confidence in Monga's potential, and the club expects him to initially join the development squad before pushing for first-team opportunities under Maresca.
