ESSEN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 11: Niko Ilicevic of Germany runs with the ball during the U16 friendly match between U16 Germany and U16 Romania at Stadion Uhlenkrug on October 11, 2025 in Essen, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images for DFB)
ESSEN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 11: Niko Ilicevic of Germany runs with the ball during the U16 friendly match between U16 Germany and U16 Romania at Stadion Uhlenkrug on October 11, 2025 in Essen, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images for DFB)
Inter and Milan are reportedly monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt youngster Niko Ilicevic, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester City also keeping tabs on the attacking midfielder.
According to Calciomercato.com, citing Sky Sport Deutschland, both Milan clubs see the 15-year-old as one for the future. Ilicevic has been at Frankfurt’s academy since the age of eight, and the Bundesliga club want to tie him to his first professional contract when he turns 16 on 31 October.
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As luck would have it, that is the same day Milan and Inter meet in the derby.
ESSEN, GERMANY - OCTOBER 11: Darius Rosiu of Romania challenges Niko Ilicevic of Germany during the U16 friendly match between U16 Germany and U16 Romania at Stadion Uhlenkrug on October 11, 2025 in Essen, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images for DFB)
ESSEN, GERMANY – OCTOBER 11: Darius Rosiu of Romania challenges Niko Ilicevic of Germany during the U16 friendly match between U16 Germany and U16 Romania at Stadion Uhlenkrug on October 11, 2025 in Essen, Germany. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images for DFB)
Ilicevic shining for Germany’s youth sides
The playmaker has already made an impression at international level, with two goals in three appearances for Germany’s Under-17s. He previously scored once in two games for the Under-15s and twice in seven for the Under-16s.
Under FIFA’s rules on minors, he could only move abroad within the EU once he turns 16. That would rule out a move to Manchester City until he is 18.
Football runs in the family. His uncle, Ivo Ilicevic, was a winger who played for Nürnberg, Hamburg, Kaiserslautern, Bochum, Greuther Fürth and Darmstadt in Germany, as well as Anzhi in Russia and Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan. He also scored once in nine games for Croatia.