Arsenal and Manchester City are expected to compete for the Premier League title again next season, but the two clubs are also at loggerheads on the transfer front.
Manchester City set to sign promising academy star from Arsenal (Image: GETTY)
Manchester City are set to poach a teenage prodigy from Arsenal’s youth ranks – just days after beating them to sign high-profile Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga.
The newly crowned Premier League champions had emerged as favorites to sign Monga following Leicester’s relegation and were in advanced stages of contract negotiations for the 16-year-old before City swooped in and attempted to take over last week.
Monga is set to head to the Etihad in a deal worth a total of £12.5m, with Arsenal subsequently withdrawing their interest in the talented England Under-18 international.
And the Gunners now look set to lose yet another talented young player from their academy to their title rivals.
The Mail reports that Michel Nduka is in talks to join Manchester City rather than sign a new contract with Arsenal on scholarship.
Midfielder Nduka joined Arsenal from Charlton in September 2025 and made an impression in the academy. He follows Kyran Thompson’s decision to leave Arsenal for rivals, with the same report claiming Thompson is set to join Tottenham.
The departure comes at a transitional period for Arsenal’s academy, with manager Per Mertesacker stepping down. Last week, the club appointed Strasbourg native Pascal de Macharc as its new academy director.
Arsenal are set to miss out on Jeremy Monga’s move to Manchester City (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Both Arsenal and Manchester City plan to strengthen their ranks at the top level, but they are among the Premier League’s biggest clubs and are always on the lookout for emerging young talent.
Monga featured regularly in Leicester’s Championship last season and attracted the attention of a number of European hotshots despite the club’s poor season, which culminated in them being relegated to the third tier.
The signing of the winger is an early win for Manchester City’s new manager Enzo Maresca. He has known Monga since his time as Leicester manager.
Monga has already made his mark in the top flight, being the third youngest player to appear in a Premier League game at 15 years and 271 days old.
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