Man City sign Leicester teenager Jeremy Monga in £10m deal to join pre-season tour

Manchester City have completed the signing of Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga in a £10million deal with add-ons, the club confirmed, with the 17-year-old penning a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Monga, who turned 17 this week, will join City’s pre-season tour of Asia later this month and is set to feature against Inter Milan, the K-League All Stars, and Atletico Madrid as the club assess him ahead of the new season. Whether he remains with the first team or heads out on loan beyond pre-season is yet to be decided.

The winger made his Leicester debut at just 15, coming off the bench in a Premier League fixture against Newcastle United in April 2025. Only Arsenal’s Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri have appeared in a top-flight match at a younger age. Across 37 senior appearances for the Foxes — seven of them in the Premier League — Monga demonstrated the versatility to play on the left, right, or centrally.

City had monitored Monga for some time but opted against a move last summer, allowing him to sign a one-year scholarship deal with Leicester that converted into a professional contract upon his 17th birthday — triggering the requirement for a transfer fee. Arsenal were initially considered frontrunners after holding talks this summer, but City moved decisively and the Gunners ultimately stepped back.

A key factor in City’s late push was head coach Enzo Maresca, who managed Leicester during the 2023/24 Championship-winning campaign and worked directly with Monga during his development. Maresca’s familiarity with the player is understood to have accelerated City’s interest significantly.

The club’s broader ambition to secure elite young talent also played a role, with City confident Monga has the profile to develop into a regular first-team contributor at the Etihad.