Jeremy Monga has been one of the most sought-after young talents in England for years and the winger has opened up on his decision to join Manchester City over Arsenal this summer in a £10m deal
It was only in February 2025, as he stepped onto the Old Trafford pitch, that Jeremy Monga truly realised he had something special. Scouting reports from clubs and England staff had been singing his praises for years, but in academy football, you can never be certain of making it to the first team until the moment arrives.
After being named on the bench for an FA Cup match against United shortly after his 15th birthday, Monga made his debut for Leicester a few months later, becoming the second youngest Premier League player in competition history at the time.
The countless hours sacrificed with his friends had paid off, and the young lad’s parents were quick to remind him that while reaching this level was an achievement, maintaining his position would be another challenge altogether.
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With Manchester City and other top-flight clubs keeping a keen eye on his progress, Monga lived up to his promise, making 17 appearances in the Championship for Leicester before securing a £10m transfer to the Etihad this summer.
Despite enduring a torrid time with the Foxes, who suffered back-to-back relegations, Monga has nothing but praise for the club that nurtured his talent, and his transfer fee will undoubtedly come in handy as they strive to regain their footing.
He recognised it was time for a fresh start though as they were relegated to League One, and came ‘very close’ to signing for Arsenal this summer as the Premier League champions sought to build on their success.
As they attempted to negotiate Leicester’s asking price down, City pounced almost immediately after Enzo Maresca had officially arrived at the Etihad, reports the Manchester Evening News.
There was minimal previous connection between the pair given Monga was an Under-13 during the year Maresca managed the Foxes, but the teenager had City on his radar from earlier transfer windows.
With no progress from Arsenal, Monga seized the opportunity as soon as he learnt City had renewed their interest.
“[Arsenal’s interest] was very strong because it was very close to me going there. Very close. The main decision was probably the pathway and the club itself.
“They’ve been so successful that it was a no-brainer when City calls. I feel like to me personally I see myself at City more. I see myself in blue!”.
“[This summer] was more a time of reflection. After last season, thinking about what’s next. Obviously once I heard City called in again it was really a no-brainer because it is such a successful club. It’s every child’s dream to win trophies and be at the top with the best.”
The initial signs at City are encouraging too, with the winger absorbing all of Maresca’s on-field instructions and heeding Antoine Semenyo’s guidance away from the action.
“I’m the type of person that doesn’t really focus on the outside noise, I just focus on what I do on the pitch and stuff so I find it easy to cope because I don’t overthink, I just do what I do on the pitch.
“One thing that I realised early is that everything can get stripped away just like that so I have to stay focused and humble because keeping my spot is the main priority.
“Sometimes it’s annoying that I’m missing out on things but it’s for the greater good. If you want to be a top player you have to live the top lifestyle and make sacrifices. My parents taught me that early because of the experiences we’ve gone through.
“It’s only been a short time [at City] and not much has happened but Antoine Semenyo has been guiding me so far, telling me what’s right from wrong and what to do. Things like me off the pitch, interacting with other people and creating a good image of yourself.”