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When 15-year-old Jeremy Monga stepped onto the pitch for Leicester City this week, he instantly made headlines — not just for becoming the second-youngest player in Premier League history, but for what wasn’t on his shirt.
While his Leicester teammates wore kits emblazoned with the logo of club sponsor BC.GAME — a cryptocurrency-based gambling platform — Monga’s shirt was conspicuously blank. The absence wasn’t a fashion statement, but a legal requirement.
UK regulations, outlined in the Gambling Act 2005 and reinforced by a 2020 review, prohibit under-18 players from wearing kits featuring gambling sponsors. With Monga just 15 years and 271 days old, Leicester were required to provide him with a specially modified jersey, free from the sponsorship logo that usually appears front and center.
The visual contrast was stark — a teenager making history in a clean, sponsor-less shirt, standing out not only for his age but for symbolizing the ongoing tension between football’s commercial ties and youth protection policies.
Monga entered the match in the 74th minute of Leicester’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle, and though he couldn’t shift the scoreline, he left a lasting impression. Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy praised the winger’s performance and potential, saying, “You could see glimpses of his great qualities. He’s a great winger and has speed… He deserved these minutes and hopefully, more to come.”
A rising star in England’s U16 squad, Monga’s debut is now remembered as much for what he wore as how he played — a moment that quietly spotlighted an important conversation about the role of sponsorships in youth sport.
Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @premierleague, Pixabay / jorono
