Jeremy Monga has broken his silence on the transfer saga that took him away from Arsenal’s grasp and into the arms of Manchester City this summer, admitting the switch felt like a “no-brainer” once the Cityzens came calling.
The 17-year-old, who left Leicester City following their relegation to League One, had appeared destined for Emirates Stadium for much of the transfer window, with Arsenal long considered favourites to land one of English football’s most exciting young talents. But City, now managed by former Leicester boss Enzo Maresca, swooped late to beat their rivals to his signature.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Monga admitted just how close he came to choosing Arsenal instead.
“It [Arsenal interest] was very strong because it was very close to me going there, very close,” he said.
“The main decision was probably the pathway and the club itself. They’ve been so successful that it was a no-brainer when City call. It’s every child’s dream to win trophies and be at the top with the best.”
Pathway to the first team was the deciding factor
For a player who broke into Leicester’s first team at just 15 years and 271 days old — becoming the third-youngest player in Premier League history — the promise of a clear route into City’s senior squad appears to have outweighed the lure of Arsenal’s title-winning project under Mikel Arteta.
Monga’s reasoning echoes a familiar theme among elite academy prospects: opportunity over reputation alone. He suggested that seeing a genuine pathway laid out for him at the Etihad, allied to City’s pedigree, made the decision straightforward once it presented itself.
“Once I get the opportunity, I just need to show myself and once I do that, everything will take care of itself,” he added. “I feel like, to me personally, I see myself at City more. I see myself in blue.”
The move, worth in the region of £10m with a further £2.5m in potential add-ons, sees Monga commit his long-term future to City, having signed a five-year deal running until 2031.
Reunited with Maresca after Leicester exit
There is an added layer to the move given Maresca’s own history with the teenager. The Italian, who has taken charge at City this summer following Pep Guardiola’s departure, previously worked with Monga during his time as Leicester manager before leaving to join Chelsea.
That familiarity is understood to have played a part in convincing the winger that City represented the right next step in his development, even as Arsenal continued to push for a deal.
Monga has already had his first taste of life in sky blue, coming off the bench for his full debut in City’s pre-season friendly against a K-League All-Stars side in Seoul, a match City won 3-1.
He replaced Rayan Ait-Nouri in the 62nd minute and showed flashes of the quality that persuaded two of England’s biggest clubs to fight for his signature, twice going close to a debut goal — including an effort ruled out for handball — before a curling shot was saved.
While he is unlikely to be a regular fixture in Maresca’s first-team plans immediately, given the level of competition at City, there is optimism that appearances in cup competitions and further pre-season outings will follow as he continues to adapt to a higher standard of football than he experienced during his solitary Championship season with Leicester.
For Arsenal, the failure to land Monga will sting, particularly given how advanced talks were believed to be at one stage. Arteta’s side had been considered strong favourites, only for City to hijack the deal in the closing stages of the window.
