Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad completed the signing of Nigerian-born forward George Ilenikhena for €33 million from French side AS Monaco, during the winter transfer window.
The youngster began his career at Amiens, before moving to the Belgian Super League to join Royal Antwerp in the summer of 2023. After impressing for the Belgian club, he returned to France just one year later, moving to AS Monaco in a deal worth around €20 million.
The Super Eagles prospect has now moved to the Middle East, where he has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with the Saudi champions until the summer of 2029.
Ilenikhena has joined Al Ittihad who look to replace French forward Karim Benzema, who joined league rivals Al Hilal during the course of the transfer window. The 19-year-old made his debut for the club during the 7-0 thrashing of Al-Gharafa in the AFC Champions League and will look to impress with his pace and dribbling skills.
How much did Al Ittihad pay to sign Ilenikhena
Al Ittihad agreed a fee in the region of €33 million for the transfer of the Nigerian-born youngster, with a fixed fee of €30 million and an additional €3 million in add-ons.
French club AS Monaco needed to sell the 19-year-old to avoid breaching financial fair play regulations, while Al Ittihad beat competition from the likes of Stuttgart and RB Leipzig for his signature.
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How much will Ilenikhena earn at Al Ittihad
Per Capology, Ilenikhena earned about €17,692 per week during his time at Monaco, amounting to about €920,000 per year and is set to receive a significant increase in wages after signing with Al Ittihad.
The young forward will earn over €3 million during his three-and-a-half year stay in the Saudi Pro League, with Al Ittihad’s total expenditure set to reach about €49 million.
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From Southeastern France to Saudi Arabia
George Ilenikhena rose to prominence during his time at Royal Antwerp in Belgium, before moving to Monaco in 2024.
He departs the French club after less than two years, becoming the latest footballer to trade Europe for the Middle East, where he will be eager to make his mark at his new club.
