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Ligue 1 side AS Monaco have secured the signing of 17-year-old Nigerian forward George Ilenikhena following his impressive season with Royal Antwerp.
Monaco signed the Lagos-born striker for €20 million from Amiens SC, who had initially signed him in the summer of 2023 for a fee of around €6 million.
Last season, the promising talent scored 14 goals and provided 1 assist in 50 games across all competitions for Antwerp.
Background
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Ilenikhena moved to France with his parents at the age of three and has quickly risen through the ranks of European football.
He made his professional debut for Amiens SC on November 19, 2022, in a 10–0 home win against Aiglon du Lamentin in the Coupe de France, coming on as a substitute for Jérémy Gélin.
On 29 June 2023, he signed a four-year deal with Belgian Pro League Champions Royal Antwerp. Later that year, on 13 December, he scored his first Champions League goal in the 92nd minute, securing a historic 3–2 victory against Barcelona; Antwerp’s first-ever win in the competition.
A strong left-footed player, Ilenikhena is known for his exceptional ability to attack the depth of the field.
