Jeremy Monga debut at the age of 15 in the Premier League. The teenager gives Leicester City new hope in difficult times – but also arouses the interest of other clubs.
Nine years after the surprising win of the English championship, the fans of Leicester City have little reason to be happy. The current Premier League season threatens to enter into the annals of the club as one of the worst.
On Monday evening it was 0: 3 against Newcastle United after just 34 minutes, but for the attachment of the Foxes there was still a ray of hope in the second half: in the 74th minute, Jeremy Monga, traded as a child prodigy, entered the lawn of the King Power Stadium for the first time.
Jeremy Monga rose to the second youngest player in Premier League history on Monday
At 15 and 271 days, the young Englishman rose to the second youngest player in Premier League history. Only Ethan Nwaneri from Arsenal was even younger in his debut in September 2022 (15 years and 181 days).
Curious detail at professional debut
Because of his delicate age, Monga even played without a jersey advertising because Leicester City has a gambling provider as the main sponsor. Minors are not allowed to advertise such platforms in England.
As expected, the teenager could not put his stamp on the already decided game, but his substitution made a strong sign for the future of the club – especially in the middle of the current sporting crisis.
Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy showed himself after the game full of praise for Monga: “He is a great winger and has speed,” said the Dutch. The right foot is a “a fantastic talent, a great boy. He deserves these minutes and hopefully more will come.”
Top clubs have 15-year-olds in mind
Monga is not only considered a highly laid outdoor car player, but the greatest talent that the Leicester academy has produced in recent years.
At the age of eight, the Englishman was piloted from his hometown Coventry to Leicester. There he usually commutes between the U18 and U21 of the Foxes.
But the U16 international England has now also called the big clubs. According to matching media reports, Monga is primarily observed by Manchester City, but Chelsea, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are also said to have already kept an eye on him.
Leicester wants to hold Juwel
Last summer, Leicester is said to have been concerned that the jewel continues his career at another club without ever playing a game for the Foxes team.
The association therefore wants to avoid that a scenario is repeated like Trey Nyoni. Nyoni was also considered one of the greatest talents of the Foxes Academy before deciding to switch to Liverpool FC in 2023 at the age of 16.
In England, players cannot sign a professional contract before they are 17, but offers can be submitted beforehand.
Van Nistelrooy: “Age doesn’t matter”
This is also why Monga is increasingly introduced to the first team in Leicester. The former Foxes coach, Steve Cooper, had first ordered him into professional training at the beginning of the season. There the winger is said to have left a confident and convincing impression immediately.
When Ruud van Nistelrooy took over the scepter at the end of November, he also got an overview of the talents from the U21 and U18. “When players are good enough, age does not matter to me and they can help the team,” said the coach.
In February, Monga took place on the bench of the first team for the first time when he belonged to the squad at the FA Cup game against Manchester United.
Leicester talent is still going to school
Van Nistelrooy is planning in the long run with the talented player, as he already revealed in January: “I think a lot of him and I want him to be part of the future of this association in the long term.”
The former striker, who once ran for the HSV, wants to rush, but nothing: “He is 15, still goes to school and can only train with us on Thursdays. So we have to see what the best thing is for him and what the way to the first team and senior football looks like.”
In consultation with Monga’s family, he wanted to show the 15-year-old a way “which we think is the best to bring him to the first team”.
Descent as an opportunity for Monga?
Leicester City hopes that the aspiring star will keep the club loyal to the club in the coming years and may even become a figurehead of the association. In the best case, the association could achieve a stately transfer fee when selling Monga.
Meanwhile, after the eighth defeat in series, the Foxes tumble seven game days before the end of the direct relegation. Lying in 19th place, the distance to the first non -relegation area is already 15 points.
In the middle of the descent, however, there could also be an opportunity for Monga: when walking to the second -class championship, the youngster should offer more opportunities than was the case in the Premier League.