AS Monaco Agree Deal To Sign 17-Year-Old Nigerian Forward

AS Monaco have reached an agreement to sign 17-year-old Nigerian forward George Ilenikhena from Belgian Jupiler club Royal Antwerp.

According to Italian journalist, Fabrizio Romano, on X, the deal which is valued at around €20 million, is set to be finalised this week.

Romano dislcosed that Ilenikhena has already agreed to terms with Monaco and is expected to undergo medical tests soon.

Ilenikhena made 37 appearances in the Belgian topflight last season and scored seven goals.

Also, he scored one goal in six games for Antwerp in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League.

Ilenikhena was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but arrived in France aged only three years and grew up in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine.

Having made his way through all of the youth levels of the amateur Antony Football Evolution, Ilenikhena joined Amiens that was just relegated to Ligue 2, for the 2021–22 season.

During that season he scored 24 goals for the under-17 national side, also playing and scoring in the Coupe Gambardella, this drew the attention of big clubs in France and Abroad during the summer 2022, while he was still just aged 15.

He made his professional debut for the Amiens SC on 19 November 2022, during a 10–0 home France Cup win to the Aiglon du Lamentin. He came on as a substitute for Jérémy Gelin, as his side was already 8–0 up.

On 29 June 2023, he signed for Royal Antwerp, on a four-year deal, for a reported fee of €6 million. On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.