Arsenal contacted Leicester City last month over a deal for the 16-year-old striker. Steve Bardens/Getty Images
Manchester City are working to complete a deal for Leicester City striker Jeremy Monga for a fee in the region of £10 million.
Both clubs are in direct contact with a move after Arsenal, who were also in contact between the clubs, felt the valuation was too high and pulled out.
Newly appointed City manager Enzo Maresca is behind the club’s pursuit of Monga, having known the 16-year-old from his time as Leicester manager in the 2023/24 season.
Monga made his Premier League debut at the age of 15 years and 271 days against Newcastle United in April 2025 and is the third youngest player to appear in a Premier League match, behind Arsenal’s Max Dauman and Ethan Nwaneri.
Monga made seven substitute appearances at the end of the 2024–25 season as Leicester were relegated from the top flight, and played a further 30 times in the 2025–26 season, mostly as a substitute as his side were relegated to League One.
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Athletic Last year it was reported that Monga’s performances for Leicester’s under-21 side had attracted interest from a number of clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Monga has committed to signing a one-year scholarship that will begin on July 10 last year and is expected to turn into a professional contract when he turns 17. Agreeing these scholarship terms was significant for Leicester as it meant that a transfer price would have to be negotiated with a club wanting to sign the teenager, rather than potentially leaving him for less.
Leicester’s relegation to the third tier of English football comes after they were deducted six points for breaching the English Football League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) over a three-year period ending with the 2023-24 season. They will play third division football for the first time since the 2008/09 season.
Leicester have previously been good at retaining their young talent, but in recent years we have seen promising academy players leave, including Trey Nyoni to Liverpool and Tyrese Nubissi to Manchester City.
July 3, 2026
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