Franco-Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena leaves AS Monaco at 19. He is transferred to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia for an amount of 30 million euros.
Monaco confirmed on Tuesday the departure of 19-year-old Franco-Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena for the Saudi club Al-Ittihad, in search of a replacement for Karim Benzema, transferred to Al-Hilal on Monday.
The striker, bought for nearly 19 million euros from Royal Antwerp in the summer of 2024, was sold for 30 million EUR, AFP learned from sources close to the matter. In 51 games for ASM, he scored 10 goals.
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This transfer allows Monaco to no longer be subject to possible financial sanctions from UEFA, as general director Thiago Scuro indicated in mid-January.
Monaco was required to generate at least EUR 20 million before the end of June, in order to comply with UEFA’s new financial principles, according to a source.
The amount of Ilenikhena’s transfer as well as the bonuses (EUR 4 million) linked to the transfer of another ex-Monegasque, Saïmon Bouabré, transferred last summer to the Saudi club Neom and who has just joined Al-Hilal, allowed the club to get back on track.
It now remains for the Principality club, 10th in Ligue 1 but still involved in the Coupe de France and the Champions League, to manage to return to European competitions next season.
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