Arsenal pip Manchester United and Chelsea to land EFL wonderkid: report

SILEBY, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Jeremy Monga of Leicester in action during The FA Youth Cup Third round match between Leicester City and Chelsea at Leicester City FC Training Ground on December 13, 2024 in Sileby, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Manchester United
Jeremy Monga has caught the eye with his performances for Leicester (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Leicester City wonderkid Jeremy Monga, according to reports.

The winger made his Premier League debut last April aged just 15 and featured regularly for the Foxes in the Championship last season.

Monga’s performances have caught the eye despite Leicester’s double relegation, with Arsenal among a host of clubs across Europe who have reportedly been monitoring the 16-year-old.

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Jeremy Monga chooses Arsenal over Premier League rivals

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Declan Rice celebrate aft the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park

Arsenal's Declan Rice (left) and manager Mikel Arteta with the Premier League trophy (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal enjoyed their best season in a generation in 2025/26, as they won the Premier League for the first time since 2004 and reached the Champions League final, losing to Paris Saint-Germain.

However, manager Mikel Arteta is already planning for the future, with the Gunners chasing 17-year-old Georgian starlet Andria Bartishvili, in addition to Monga.

Jeremy Monga of Leicester City celebrates with Abdul Fatawu after scoring to make it 1-1 during the Sky Bet Championship match against Preston North End at Deepdale on August 16, 2025 in Preston

Jeremy Monga scored his first Leicester goal against Preston North End last August (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal faced intense competition to land the Leicester youngster but appear to have won the race, according to TEAMtalk, who claim that Monga has agreed to join the Premier League champions.

The report states that the two clubs are set to enter discussions over a compensation package for the teenager, with the final deal expected to cost between £10m and £15m.

TEAMtalk claims that Monga has opted to join Arsenal despite interest from several other big-hitters, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea all attempting to hijack the transfer.

The England Under-19 international does not turn 17 until July 10, when he is due to sign his first professional contract with Leicester, which is why compensation must be agreed.

The report adds that Monga wanted the Foxes to receive a significant financial boost in the event of his departure, as a result of the role the club played in his development.

Max Dowman signs his Arsenal pre-contract agreement

Max Dowman is one of several starlets already at the Emirates Stadium (Image credit: Getty Images)

Monga made seven substitute appearances in the Premier League towards the end of last season and has played 37 times for Leicester in total, scoring in a 2-1 defeat by Preston North End last August.

If he completes his move to Arsenal, he would join an exciting group of youngsters at the Emirates Stadium, including Max Dowman, 16, and 19-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Indeed, Monga and Dowman played together for England Under-19s on several occasions in the early part of last season, despite being aged just 16 and 15 respectively at the time.

Freelance writer

James Roberts is a freelance sports journalist working for FourFourTwo and other titles. He started his career at the Oxford Mail, where he covered Oxford United home and away, before becoming a sports sub-editor for various national newspapers.

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