Portrait 25 July 2024, 15:10

Records, Barça, reunions… 10 things to know about George Ilenikhena

Having arrived this Thursday from the Belgian club Royal Antwerp, our new 17-year-old Nigerian striker will discover Ligue 1, after having trained with Amiens SC. Before seeing him at work on the pitch, here's everything you need to know about him.

He is the first recruit for AS Monaco this summer! Arriving from Royal Antwerp, where he played last season, George Ilenikhena thus joins the ranks of the Monegasque attack. Renowned for being a powerful presence, this pure left-footer will celebrate his 18th birthday on August 16 and has European experience having already played in the Champions League with the Belgian club. Before his first minutes in Rouge et Blanc, here’s what you need to know about him.Portrait ✍️

George Ilenikhena est Monégasque 📸#WelcomeIlenikhena pic.twitter.com/O2MHbAVB9S

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) July 25, 2024

The seventh Nigerian 🇳🇬

To begin with, George was born in Lagos, former capital of the most populous country in Africa (224 million inhabitants), in 2006. He thus succeeds the Club’s top scorer in Europe, Victor Ikpeba (1993-1999), but also to five other players from Nigeria: Sani Kaita (2008-2009), Lukman Haruna (2009-2011), Rabiu Afolabi (2011-2012), Elderson Echiejile (2014-2016), and Henry Onyekuru (2019-2021) .

Et le huitième George(s) à l’AS Monaco ! 🆕

Lui qui fêtera ses 18 ans le mois prochain (le 16 août exactement, ndlr.) va également devenir le huitième joueur du club de la Principauté à porter ce prénom. Il rejoint en effet Georges Besset (1948-1950), Georges Thomas (1955-1964), Georges Casolari (1959-1970), Georges Taberner (1961-1963), Georges Polny (1972-1974), Georges Prost et une légende africaine, vainqueur du Ballon d’Or en 1995 : George Weah (1988-1992). 😉 @Yayou

Impressive stats with the U-17 National 📈

Although he was born in Nigeria, George moved to France with his parents at the age of three, to Antony. A football fan since he was little – it was his mother’s brothers who passed this passion on to him – he joined his town’s club and completed all his training there, before joining Amiens in 2021. The striker then distinguished himself in with their U-17 National side, scoring 24 goals with the Picardy club.

I like celebrating like Ronaldo or Mbappé. They are my favorite players. I am inspired by them. Ever since I was little, I've been watching videos of them on Youtube. Ronaldo, he works. He scores a lot of goals. Mbappé too, even if he works less than Ronaldo, I like how he is.

George Ilenikhena, to Onze Mondial

Inspired by legends 🏅

“Scorer and hungry for goals”, was how he described himself in an interview with Onze Mondial, as the left-footer is inspired by two very great players: Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé, “by very often watching videos of them on Youtube”. This is also why he “likes to celebrate” when he scores.

Sealing a Champions League win against a top club 🇪🇺

Speaking of goals, George has scored 14 in 50 games for Royal Antwerp, the club he joined last summer, all in a minimum of playing time (2013 minutes). He also scored six after coming on, the highest total for a Jupiler Pro League substitute.

This “supersub” mode which was also activated in the Champions League when he gave his team a victory against… Barcelona in added time! This came even though he had only just come on 11 minutes earlier. It was a prestigious win, which remains the first for the Belgian team in the competition!

Several records of precocity 🍼

This cold-blooded striker saw him enter the history of the Champions League, becoming the youngest Nigerian scorer in the competition’s history, at the age of 17 years and 119 days. It was another record for him, who had already become the youngest scorer in Ligue 2 at 16 years and 150 days in January 2023, as well as the youngest to score in two consecutive Jupiler Pro League matches… since Romelu Lukaku in 2010, notes Opta.

Among the world’s biggest talents under the age of 20 👶

These different records therefore make him one of the greatest promises currently under the age of 20. According to a table by L’Équipe last June, the center forward was even in 18th place, just ahead of Lyon’s Malick Fofana. A Top 30 where we find in particular Eliesse Ben Seghir (24), Arda Güler (11), Mathys Tel (10) or Lamine Yamalin top spot — what company!

A special story with Cercle 🤝

In Belgium, George faced four times the sister club of AS Monaco, Cercle Bruges,last year. Coincidentally with the calendar, the first leg was scheduled for the first day of the Jupiler League. It was against the Groen-Zwart that he had the chance to make his first division debut by coming on 10 minutes from time, before scoring at the end of added time in the return match and sealing the victory for his team 3-1.

468 minuten over alle competities heen. 7 doelpunten. Een goal om de 66 minuten. George Ilenikhena! ⚽🔥 pic.twitter.com/8HQVvpmztb

— Royal Antwerp FC (@official_rafc) December 11, 2023

He’ll reuite with some familiar faces 🫂

At AS Monaco, the Nigerian will meet up with an old acquaintance: Kassoum Ouattara. The two players indeed rubbed shoulders in Amiens in 2021 when they were with the U-19s, then during the 2022-2023 season with the reserves and with the first team in Ligue 2, playing together in six second division matches.

He’ll also reunite with Eliot Matazo, with who he played last season in Antwerp. This should facilitate his integration into the group of Adi Hütter.

Lots of potential in EA FC 24 🎮

We finally finish his portrait by addressing the gamers among us, to talk about his card on EA FC 24! If he has an overall score estimated at 68, he nevertheless has very interesting potential since he can climb up to… 87. George stands out in particular for his speed with a score of 82 and he has three stars on skills as well as with his weak foot. It’s enough to make you want to try to play with him…😜