Man City beat Arsenal to £12.5m Monga deal and poach second academy talent

Manchester City have completed a double blow to Arsenal in the space of days, sealing a £12.5m deal for Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga and opening talks to sign Mishel Nduka directly from the Gunners’ academy.

Arsenal had been the frontrunners for 16-year-old Monga following Leicester’s relegation from the Championship, with negotiations at an advanced stage before City moved to hijack the deal last week. Monga, an England Under-18 international, is now set to join the Etihad, with Arsenal subsequently withdrawing their interest.

The capture carries particular significance for City’s new manager Enzo Maresca, who worked with Monga during his spell in charge of Leicester. The teenager is already one of the youngest players in Premier League history, having made his top-flight debut aged 15 years and 271 days — the third-youngest appearance on record.

Monga had attracted interest from a number of European clubs after featuring regularly for Leicester in the Championship last season, impressing individually despite the club’s relegation to the third tier.

Arsenal’s difficulties are compounded by the reported departure of academy midfielder Mishel Nduka, who joined the club from Charlton in September 2025. According to The Mail, Nduka is in talks to join Manchester City rather than extend his scholarship with Arsenal. He follows Kyran Thompson out of the door, with Thompson reportedly set to sign for Tottenham.

The exits arrive at a turbulent moment for Arsenal’s youth setup. Long-serving academy manager Per Mertesacker has departed, and the club last week appointed Pascal De Maesschalck from Strasbourg as their new academy director.

With both clubs expected to contest the Premier League title again next season, the early transfer skirmishes suggest the rivalry between Arsenal and City will extend well beyond the pitch.