At just 15 years and 271 days old, Jeremy Monga took to the pitch as Leicester City’s youngest debutant in their 3-0 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United.
Despite the loss, the England Under-16 winger etched his name in history books, becoming the second-youngest player in Premier League history.
Monga stepped onto the field in the 74th minute at the King Power Stadium, wearing a blank shirt due to sponsorship regulations.
Leicester’s home kit sponsor, BC.GAME, is an online cryptocurrency gaming platform. Premier League rules, under the Gambling Act 2005, prevent players under 18 from wearing kits promoting gambling companies.
Though the spotlight was on the prodigy, Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy praised Monga’s potential: “He’s a fantastic talent, a great boy. You could see glimpses of his great qualities—speed and skill. He deserved these minutes and hopefully, there’s more to come.”
Monga’s journey into professional football has been meteoric. Having showcased his skills with Leicester’s Under-18s and Under-23s, he has also made appearances in the Football League Trophy. His Premier League debut adds to his growing list of achievements.
However, Leicester’s eighth consecutive league defeat leaves them teetering near relegation, sitting 19th in the table and a daunting 15 points adrift of safety with seven games to play.
Monga joins a prestigious list of the league’s youngest players, trailing only Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal, who debuted at 15 years and 181 days in 2022. Other notable names in this category include Harvey Elliott, Matthew Briggs, Isaiah Brown, and Aaron Lennon, each debuting before turning 17.
