George Ilenikhena made a big impression in his first season at Antwerp and was quickly seen as ready for a big competition.
Antwerp dreamed of a transfer fee between 30 and 40 Million Euros, but eventually had to settle for 17 Million Euros plus bonuses of reach 20 Million Euros from AS Monaco
Despite this being a new club record, the amount was disappointing. Antwerp had to sell to remain financially independent and could therefore not negotiate a better deal.
Rarely has a 17-year-old performed so impressively in his first season in the Belgian league, with his winning goal against FC Barcelona in the Champions League as the icing on the cake.
“If he were Belgian, the daily and weekly papers would be full of him – remembering Romelu Lukaku at Anderlecht,” wrote Het Nieuwsblad. “The Nigerian-Frenchman (he was born in Lagos) is a phenomenon, you know.”
“Killer in the box, like a seasoned striker. A rough diamond who moves across the field like a cheetah,” described Het Laatste Nieuws.
George Ilenikhena was a sensation last season, with an instinct for goals and an ability to be in the right place at the right time. He has lightning-fast reaction speed and a real killer instinct, while he has a patent on real striker goals.
“A great talent. You feel that from the first second,” Jan Mulder told Het Laatste Nieuws . “I saw him play in the Champions League. I knew right away: he has it. Seventeen years.”
Ilenikhena reminds Marc Degryse of the young Lukaku. “Strong. Fast. Scoring ability. He has everything. Ilenikhena is ready for a big competition.”
The purchase of George Ilenikhena by Antwerp FC last summer for 6.5 Million Euros, plus 2 million Euros in bonuses, at the age of just 16, was clearly strategic. The club wanted to sell him for a significantly higher amount in the short term.
“Very strong work by Marc Overmars and his scouts to bring him in. They paid 6.5 million Euros (plus 2 million in bonuses) for him, but he is worth double and more and he can bring in a lot more in the future,” reported Het Nieuwsblad .
Gazet van Antwerpen predicted in December that Ilenikhena, after Arthur Vermeeren, was the player in the Antwerp selection who would bring in the most money in the long term.
“I’m curious to see where he’ll be in three years. He has the potential to be a world-class striker,” Arnar Vidarsson said in HUMO.
At the end of March, Sven Jaecques, CEO of Antwerp FC, already indicated that it would be difficult to keep Ilenikhena and that the striker is on the radar of almost every top European club.
“George himself has also indicated that he sees Antwerp as an intermediate step. If we can keep the boy here for another year, that would be very impressive,” Jaecques told Gazet van Antwerpen .
George Ilenikhena’s undeniable talent and immense ability made him one of the most sought-after young players in Europe.
According to Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, Inter Mila had set their sights on the talented Antwerp striker, who they even nicknamed “Il nuevo Osimhen” (The New Osimhen).
In mid-April it already seemed impossible that the young striker would stay at the Bosuil for another season.
According to Het Nieuwsblad, half of Europe was pulling on Ilenikhena’s sleeve, who could leave for a record amount.
The newspaper spoke of a possible transfer fee of 30 to 40 Million Euros, more than double the 18 Million Euros Atlético Madrid paid for Arthur Vermeeren. This would put Ilenikhena in the same price category as Jonathan David, Charles De Ketelaere and Igor Thiago.
However, it remained a dream for Antwerp FC because the main prize between 30 and 40 Million Euros was not achieved.
George Ilenikhena has left for AS Monaco for 17 Million Euros, an amount that could increase to 20 Million Euros with bonuses. With this, Antwerp sharpens their club record, which is a multiple of their original investment of 6 Million Euros.
“The club decided that an offer of more than 20 million for someone who has yet to turn 18 and is not even considered a regular starter within the club, cannot be refused,” according to Het Nieuwsblad .
A few months ago, Antwerp was still dreaming of an absolute jackpot of 30 to 40 Million Euros for Ilenikhena, but financial reality forced the club to urgently generate money on the transfer market.
Antwerp had to sell this summer to become financially self-supporting and no longer be dependent on capital increases from Paul Gheysens.
This put RAFC in a weaker negotiating position in the Ilenikhena dossier, and had to settle for more than half of the dreamed-of 40 Million Euros.
Still, a new outgoing club record for a 17-year-old striker isn’t bad either.
Voetbal.be
