Jeremy Monga is the second youngest player to appear in the Premier League. The 15-year-old from Leicester City also attracted attention with his shirt when he came on.
It was the 74th minute of the game between Leicester City and Newcastle United when Jeremy Monga made his Premier League debut at the King Power Stadium. On Monday evening, Leicester manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy brought on the talent as a substitute with the score at 0-3. This makes Monga, at 15 years and 271 days, the second youngest player ever to be fielded in the Premier League – after Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri, who was “only” 15 years and 181 days old when he made his debut in September 2022.
It was a brave move by the coach, as the Foxes are in 19th place and in acute danger of relegation, and recently conceded their eighth defeat in a row. Nevertheless, Van Nistelrooy is counting on the talent and promises Monga more minutes on the pitch: “He has earned these minutes and I hope he gets more. If the players are good enough, age doesn’t matter to me,” said the former star striker (36 appearances, 12 goals for HSV between 2010 and 2011).
Debut without shirt sponsor
In addition to his young age, the debutant’s shirt was also unusual. Since Leicester City wears the shirt advertising of the online gaming provider BC.Game, Monga was not allowed to play with the sponsor and therefore presented himself without the chest print.
One consequence of the revision of the Gambling Act 2005, which regulates the advertising of gambling providers as sponsors in the sports sector in England, is that such companies are not allowed to advertise to under-18s. The Premier League itself has committed to complying with the law, as have other major sports in the UK.
The law also made headlines in darts when the question arose as to whether Luke Littler should have been allowed to accept possible prize money after he became the youngest darts world champion at 17 years old in January at London’s Alexandra Palace, or “Ally Pally”. In English professional soccer, such sponsors are generally facing the end. In April 2023, English clubs, in coordination with British lawmakers, decided to completely ban jersey advertising for gambling and sports betting providers from the 2026/27 season.
Until then, Monga will have to play without a chest sponsor on his shirt. The next opportunity for the winger will come on Saturday, when Leicester City have to play at Brighton & Hove Albion.
