Arsenal set to sign "talented" teenager they hope could be as good as Dowman

Just a few days after the heartbreak that was the Champions League Final penalty shootout defeat at the Puskás Aréna, Arsenal's summer transfer activity is seemingly already in full swing. As reported by reputable source HandofArsenal, the club "have now agreed full personal terms" with Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga.

The teenager is out of contract with the Foxes, after only being eligible to sign scholarship terms, and will depart following Leicester's shock relegation to EFL League One. They add that Andrea Berta met with Monga and "laid out a pathway similar to that of Max Dowman" at Arsenal, with the Gunners leading the race for his signature, ahead of Manchester City, Bayer Leverkusen and others.

Dom Smith of the Evening Standard also notes that Arsenal "have tracked his progress for a prolonged period", and are now close to finalising a deal. So who is Monga, and why should supporters be excited about his potential arrival?

Well, despite being just 16 years old, his birthday is next Wednesday, he has already made 37 senior appearances for Leicester City. Monga's first team debut came during a 3-0 defeat against Newcastle United in the Premier League on 7 April, doing so at the age of 15 years and 271 days. This makes him the second-youngest player in English top-flight history, behind only Ethan Nwaneri by 90 days.

His manager at the time Ruud van Nistelrooy was full of praise for the youngster:

"You could see glimpses of his great qualities. He's a great winger and has speed. He's a fantastic talent, a great boy."
Ruud van Nistelrooy on Jeremy Monga

Last season, Monga was a semi-regular for the Foxes in the EFL Championship. He made 27 league appearances, of which 19 came off the bench, racking up 921 minutes. His first senior goal came against Preston North End at Deepdale last August, also registering two assists.

This goal made him the youngest-ever goalscorer in the history of the Championship. The other 16 year olds to score in the second-tier, since 2004/05, are Jude Bellingham, Chris Rigg, Ryan Sessegnon, Theo Walcott, Connor Wickham and Andre Dozzell.

Monga is a direct dribbler with plenty of pace, averaging one completed dribble per match last season, second only to Abdul Fatawu and Hale End graduate Stephy Mavididi in the Leicester squad. Of course, Monga is surely not ready to become a regular starter for Arsenal just yet.

For context, Dowman, who is viewed as a generational talent, saw only 477 senior minutes this season, albeit he did spend a substantial period on the sidelines. Nevertheless, he still featured for youth teams in PL2, the UEFA Youth League and the EFL Trophy as part of his development. Thus, expect something similar for Monga, who will be looking at the Carabao Cup for a senior debut.

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