Born in Nigeria but raised in France and Belgium, the youngster has carved a unique path to the top of the game
AS Monaco forward George Ilenikhena is one of the highest-rated young forwards in Europe and his next move could arrive sooner than expected, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 19-year-old Nigerian has been placed firmly on the radar of clubs in Germany, Spain and Italy following his eye-catching rise through French and Belgian football.
Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart are monitoring him closely, Villarreal have registered interest in Spain, while Roma have already made enquiries, according to reports.
Ilenikhena’s CV already boasts moments most strikers could only dream of. The youngster first announced himself at Royal Antwerp where he scored a stoppage-time winner against Barcelona in the Champions League, Antwerp’s first ever victory in the competition.
Less than a year later, wearing Monaco colours, he struck again versus the Catalans, this time netting the decisive goal in a 2–1 group stage win.
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Despite such high-profile exploits, the Lagos-born striker is still fighting for consistent minutes in Ligue 1.
Monaco view him as one for the future rather than a current starter, though his stock is climbing rapidly.
Transfermarkt values him at €15 million, and his current deal runs until June 2029, which means the Principality side are in no rush to sell. But with scouts circling and the promise of more regular first-team football elsewhere, Monaco may soon face a decision.
Ilenikhena’s journey has been rapid. He moved from Nigeria to France as a child, came through Antony Football Evolution before joining Amiens, and at just 15 was already drawing attention from top clubs. His performances in Belgium with Antwerp confirmed his pedigree, and a €6m move to Monaco last summer gave him a bigger stage.
Strong, quick, and left-footed, Ilenikhena is seen by many as a modern centre-forward capable of stretching defences and striking fear with his direct runs.
Former Amiens coach Philippe Hinschberger described him as “a striker with depth, power and the instinct to punish mistakes.”
For now, Monaco hold the cards. But the longer Ilenikhena continues producing on Europe’s biggest nights, the louder the competition will grow.