Man City close to signing 16-year-old Jeremy Monga from Leicester in £10m deal

Manchester City are closing in on a £10 million deal to sign Leicester City midfielder Jeremy Monga, a player who has already made 34 senior appearances despite not yet turning 17.

Monga, born on 10 July, made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Newcastle United in April 2025 at the age of 15 — a feat achieved by only two other players in top-flight history: Arsenal’s Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri.

City first monitored Monga last summer but held back from making a move at that stage. He subsequently signed a one-year scholarship deal with Leicester, structured to convert into a professional contract upon his 17th birthday. Arsenal were widely expected to win the race for his signature this summer, but the appointment of Enzo Maresca as City manager reignited the club’s interest.

Maresca’s personal knowledge of Monga is a significant factor in the deal. The Italian was Leicester manager while Monga was progressing through the academy in the East Midlands, giving him a first-hand understanding of the teenager’s ability and potential.

Primarily a left-sided player, Monga is also capable of operating centrally or on the right, offering versatility that will appeal to Maresca’s system at the Etihad.

With a large contingent of City’s senior squad still involved at the World Cup, Monga is expected to be given an opportunity to impress on the club’s pre-season tour of Asia this summer — an early chance to show he can bridge the gap between academy prospect and first-team contender.