Bayer Leverkusen are being linked with a move for Monaco striker George Ilenikhena, with the 19-year-old centre-forward reportedly given just a 9% probability of switching clubs at this stage.
The Nigeria-born French youth prospect, valued at around €12.00m, is the subject of early speculation over a possible transfer from Ligue 1 to the Bundesliga, according to data compiled on 2 February 2026. While talks are not reported to be advanced, Leverkusen are understood to be monitoring the left-footed forward as they assess long-term attacking options.
Ilenikhena is currently under contract at Monaco, with no public indication of an expiry date, leaving it unclear when he might be able to negotiate a free move. That uncertainty has prompted suggestions he could eventually run down his deal and become a free agent, though there is no firm evidence yet that either club or player is pushing for that outcome.
Born in Lagos on 16 August 2006 and holding both Nigerian and French nationality, Ilenikhena has built a reputation as one of the more intriguing young centre-forwards in Europe. Standing at 1.85m, he operates through the middle in an attacking role and wears the No 19 shirt for Monaco, having joined from Royal Antwerp after a rapid rise.
His market value has fluctuated in recent seasons, peaking at €15.00m during his first months in Monaco before edging down to its current €12.00m level by December 2025. That trajectory reflects a player still developing after spells in Ligue 2 with Amiens SC, a breakthrough stint in Belgium’s top flight with Royal Antwerp, and now top-tier football in France.
With the current likelihood of a move calculated at just 9%, any transfer to Leverkusen appears distant for now, but if a deal does materialise, it could be a key step in defining Ilenikhena’s trajectory at the top level of European football.
