Manchester City have won the race to sign highly-rated Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga after agreeing a deal worth up to £12.5 million for the England youth international.
The 16-year-old had attracted strong interest from Arsenal, who monitored his progress closely over the past year and were regarded as one of the frontrunners for his signature.
However, Arsenal ultimately decided against matching Leicester’s valuation, allowing City to complete the deal.
The agreement is worth an initial £10m with a further £2.5m in performance-related add-ons, while Leicester have also secured a sell-on clause.
City’s new head coach Enzo Maresca is understood to have played an important role in pushing for the transfer.
Maresca previously worked with Monga during his spell at Leicester and is a long-time admirer of the winger’s potential.
Arsenal’s recruitment team also rated Monga highly, but the Premier League champions were unwilling to exceed their valuation despite recognising him as one of England’s brightest young talents.
The Gunners have invested heavily in youth recruitment in recent years, bringing in several elite prospects while promoting graduates such as Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman and Myles Lewis-Skelly into the first-team picture.
Monga had been viewed as another player capable of fitting that long-term strategy.
The teenager first attracted widespread attention after becoming one of the youngest players to feature in the Premier League during Leicester’s 2024-25 campaign.
Following the Foxes’ relegation, Monga gained further senior experience in the Championship last season.
He made 30 appearances in all competitions, largely from the bench, registering one goal and two assists despite Leicester suffering a second successive relegation following a points deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability regulations.
Interest in Monga has been intense for some time.
Real Madrid and Chelsea were among the clubs to track his progress, while Arsenal remained firmly in the race until deciding the financial package no longer represented value.
Predominantly operating from the left wing, Monga is regarded as one of English football’s most exciting young dribblers.
His direct running, ability to eliminate defenders and confidence in one-on-one situations have made him one of the country’s standout teenage prospects.
Although Arsenal have missed out on Monga, the club remain active in the youth market as Andrea Berta continues to strengthen the academy and first-team pipeline.
City, meanwhile, have secured another of England’s most promising young players as they continue building for the future under Maresca.
For Arsenal, the decision reflects a willingness to remain disciplined in the transfer market rather than commit to a fee they considered beyond the player’s current valuation.