Jeremy Monga has revealed that Manchester City's success made his decision to join them over Arsenal a 'no-brainer'. The 16-year-old winger completed a £10m move from Leicester City to the Etihad this summer, despite coming 'very close' to signing for the Premier League champions.
Early promise and rapid rise
Monga first caught the attention of scouts and England staff in February 2025 when he stepped onto the Old Trafford pitch for an FA Cup match against Manchester United, shortly after his 15th birthday. He made his Leicester debut a few months later, becoming the second youngest Premier League player in competition history at the time.
The teenager made 17 Championship appearances for Leicester before securing his transfer to City. Despite the Foxes suffering back-to-back relegations, Monga remains grateful to the club that nurtured his talent, and his transfer fee will help them as they aim to recover.
The decision to join City
Monga admitted that Arsenal's interest was very strong, but City's renewed interest came at the right time. He said: "[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."
He added: "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!"
Settling in at the Etihad
Monga is already absorbing Maresca's instructions and heeding guidance from teammate Antoine Semenyo. He remains focused on his development, saying: "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."
Reflecting on the sacrifices required, he said: "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."
