Monaco agree N34.5b deal to sign youngest ever Nigerian-born player to score in UEFA Champions League

As revealed by Fabrizio Romano, AS Monaco have agreed a deal with Royal Antwerp for the signing of history-making Lagos-born striker George Ilenikhena.

He grabbed the headlines in the last campaign when he bagged a goal in the Antwerp's victory over Barcelona on the final group game of the UEFA Champions League, to become the youngest-ever Nigerian-born player to score in the competition, aged 17 years and 119 days on December 13, 2023.

As stated in the report, the French giants have agreed to pay a €20m (approximately N34.5 billion in Nigerian currency) fee for the signature of the talented striker who has also agreed personal terms with the club and a medical has been scheduled for the completion of the deal.

Monaco finished second to PSG in the Ligue 1 last season and are beefing up their squad ahead of the next campaign, and Ilenikhena is now set to be their second signing of the summer, with their first being former West Ham defender Thilo Kehrer.

Ilenikhena didn't do badly for Royal Antwerp last term but the Belgian outfit need to bolster its finances and as a result are ready to lose the services of the teenage striker just a season after his arrival.

The 17-year-old scored 14 goals in 50 appearances across all competitions for Royal Antwerp last season.

Inter Milan icon icon Obafemi Martins who scored for the Nerazzurri  in a 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen during the 2002-2003 season at the age of 18 years and 142 days was the youngest Nigerian-born player to score in the Champions League before his record was broken by Ilenikhena. 

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid