George Ilenikhena Becomes Most Expensive Nigerian Teenager After €30m Al-Ittihad Move

George Ilenikhena has etched his name into Nigerian football history after completing a record-breaking transfer to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Ittihad, becoming the most expensive Nigerian teenager ever.

The 19-year-old forward has joined the Jeddah-based club from AS Monaco in a deal reportedly worth €30 million, surpassing the long-standing record held by John Mikel Obi, whose €20 million move from Norwegian side Lyn to Chelsea in the 2006/07 season previously stood as the highest fee paid for a Nigerian teenager.

Monaco confirmed the transfer on Tuesday, paying tribute to the striker’s impact during his time at the club.

“The club thanks George for his commitment and wishes him every success in the next chapter of his career,” the Ligue 1 side said in an official statement.

Ilenikhena joined Monaco in the summer of 2024 and went on to make 51 appearances for the Red and White, scoring 10 goals and providing two assists across all competitions, quickly establishing himself as one of the brightest young attacking talents in Europe.

According to Transfermarkt data, the €30 million move also eclipses other notable teenage transfers involving Nigerian players, including Honest Ahanor’s €17 million switch to Atalanta in the 2025/26 season. Ilenikhena’s own €18.75 million transfer from Royal Antwerp to Monaco had previously placed him among the top five Nigerian teenage transfers.

Several Nigerian players have completed high-profile moves while still in their teens, including Ademola Lookman (€8.8m to Everton), Suleman Sani (€5m to RB Leipzig), Ahmed Musa (€5m to CSKA Moscow), Uchenna Ogundu (€4.5m to Augsburg) and Akinkunmi Amoo (€4.3m to FC Copenhagen).

Although Kelechi Iheanacho and Victor Osimhen secured major transfers early in their careers, both players were already 20 years old at the time of their moves—€27.7 million from Manchester City to Leicester City for Iheanacho in 2017, and €22.4 million from Charleroi to Lille for Osimhen—excluding them from the teenage category.

Beyond topping Nigeria’s teenage transfer chart, Ilenikhena’s move also places him fifth on the list of the most expensive Nigerian players of all time, behind Victor Osimhen (€78.9m to Napoli and €75m to Galatasaray), Ademola Lookman (€35m to Atlético Madrid) and Alex Iwobi (€30.4m to Everton).

Born in Lagos, Ilenikhena relocated to France at the age of three and began his football journey with amateur side Antony Football Evolution before joining Amiens ahead of the 2021/22 season. He made his senior debut in November 2022 during a Coupe de France fixture and moved to Belgian champions Royal Antwerp in June 2023.

His rapid rise continued following his switch to Monaco in July 2024, where he showcased his versatility, physical presence and goal-scoring instincts in Ligue 1 and on the European stage.

On January 21, 2026, Ilenikhena further underlined his pedigree by surpassing Nwankwo Kanu to become the youngest African player to reach 15 UEFA Champions League appearances, achieving the milestone at 19 years and 157 days. He first announced himself to a global audience with a dramatic late winner against Barcelona in December 2023.

Now heading to Saudi Arabia, Ilenikhena’s historic transfer marks another milestone in his fast-rising career and underscores his status as one of Nigeria’s most valuable young football exports.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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