Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has delivered a rare piece of good news to Foxes supporters, revealing that a new contract for rising star Jeremy Monga is close to being finalized.
Monga made headlines in April when he became just the second 15-year-old to ever feature in a Premier League match, making his debut against Newcastle United. Although slightly older than Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri—who set the record in 2022—Monga has already racked up over an hour of Premier League football, a notable achievement for someone his age.
Even before his historic debut, Monga had caught the attention of Europe’s elite. Manchester City and Chelsea were reportedly tracking the talented forward, and The Athletic claims that Real Madrid also expressed interest in the young record-breaker.
Van Nistelrooy, who had previously tried to tone down transfer speculation, appeared increasingly confident after Monga’s latest appearance in the 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest.
“We want a future with him and are hoping we can announce a contract with him soon,” Van Nistelrooy told talkSPORT.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Dutch coach elaborated on his relationship with the youngster. “If he can stay, this is his future. We’re giving him minutes and helping him build his pathway,” he said. “I’ve had many conversations with him and his family. Hopefully, he signs soon. But it’s up to him.
“It’s a joy to work with him. We even talk about his GCSEs and maths—sometimes I have to help him with that! But of course, we also talk about football. He nearly scored the winner today. That would’ve been a fairytale.”
Monga came close to making history again in stoppage time, nearly scoring the winner after Jamie Vardy led a late counterattack. His effort was on target but tipped over by Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mats Sels.
Should Monga stay at Leicester, who have already been relegated, he has just two matches left to become the Premier League’s youngest ever goalscorer. If he joins another top-flight club, he’ll have until April 5, 2026, to break James Vaughan’s long-standing record.