The Nigeria-eligible youngster is following in the footsteps of Victor Osimhen after swapping Belgium for France's Ligue 1.
17-year-old Nigerian sensation George Ilenikhena has made an instant impact at his new club AS Monaco, scoring on his debut to inspire a comfortable 3-1 win over Dutch giants Feyenoord.
The mega-money transfer, which saw Monaco fork out a staggering €20 million (over £31 billion!) to pry Ilenikhena away from Belgian side Royal Antwerp, beating off stiff competition from Europe's elite to secure the services of one of Nigeria's most promising young talents.
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Victor Osimhen's heir off the mark
Ilenikhena, who painted Belgium with his remarkable goal-scoring exploits for Antwerp, has now taken his game to the next level, opening his account for Monaco on his debut in a display that has left the French club's supporters purring with delight.
The Nigerian wonderkid's goal was made in Nigeria, with English-born Nigerian forward Folarin Balogun providing the assist that allowed Ilenikhena to break the deadlock and set Monaco on their way to victory.
This latest move follows in the footsteps of Victor Osimhen, another Nigerian talent who impressed in Belgium before making the switch to Ligue 1 where he joined Lille. I
lenikhena's move to Monaco, initially valued at a staggering N28 billion, represents a massive endorsement of his potential and the growing reputation of Nigerian players in the European market.
In his breakthrough season with Royal Antwerp, the 17-year-old striker was nothing short of remarkable, netting an impressive 13 goals in 1246 minutes of play across all competitions.
This incredible tally, which equates to an average of one goal every 96 minutes, has placed Ilenikhena among the most efficient and promising young talents in European football today.
With his clinical finishing, physical presence, and eye for goal, Ilenikhena has been hailed as the "Giant Killer" in Belgium, a testament to his ability to consistently punish even the most seasoned defences.
The youngster's move to the French Ligue 1 giants represents a significant step in his burgeoning career, and with his debut goal already in the bag, the Nigerian sensation will be looking to build on this impressive start and continue his rapid ascent to the top of the European game.
Watch the goal by the next Osimhen
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