Real Madrid target Championship star as Vinicius Junior replacement

Cameron Smith

• 14 Sept 2025 21:30 BST
• 4 min read

News

Real Madrid are interested in signing Leicester City wonderkid Jeremy Monga as a long-term replacement for Vinicius Junior, according to reports in Spain.

Monga, 16, has established himself as a first-team regular so far this year and his progress at the King Power Stadium is being monitored by virtually every top European club, including both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Premier League clubs are also keeping close tabs on the teenager’s ascent to stardom and Leicester are set to face an immense battle for his signature during the 2026 summer transfer window.

It’s understood that Monga is likely to sign his first professional contract with the Foxes when he turns 17 years old in July, however Real Madrid are among the teams pushing to finalise a deal to sign him next summer.

Monga has already contributed one goal and one assist in 12 senior appearances for Leicester and Xabi Alonso’s side have identified him as a top transfer target, as per multiple reports.

In fact, Fichajes even claim that he is regarded as a possible replacement for Vinicius Jr.

The Brazil international is expected to join a club in Saudi Arabia at some point over the next few years and widespread rumours suggest that Real Madrid may even sell him next summer if he is unable to rediscover the form he displayed during the 2023-24 season.

Leicester reportedly have no intention of allowing Monga to leave, however Real Madrid have set their sights on bringing the 16-year-old to the Santiago Bernabeu amid significant competition for his signature.

Jeremy Monga to Real Madrid?

Monga, who broke Jude Bellingham’s record as the youngest ever player to feature in the Championship earlier this season, has been widely praised since his breakthrough onto the senior stage and Leicester boss Marti Cifuentes is among his biggest admirers.

“He’s a very nice boy, he’s humble and it’s something that at his age is very important,” Cifuentes told reporters in late August. “He wants to learn, he wants to improve. He’s got his feet on the ground. I have daily conversations with him and, the way I see him training, he’s calm.

“We’re going to try and help him understand that this is not easy and perhaps one of the biggest challenges in professional football is not to arrive but to stay, to keep progressing.”

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