| George Ilenikhena | |
| Fullname: | George Osrzehmen Ilenikhena[1] |
| Birth Date: | 16 August 2006 |
| Birth Place: | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Height: | 1.85 m |
| Position: | Forward |
| Currentclub: | Monaco |
| Clubnumber: | 21 |
| Youthyears1: | 2009–2021 |
| Youthyears2: | 2021–2022 |
| Youthclubs2: | Amiens |
| Years1: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs1: | Amiens B |
| Caps1: | 10 |
| Goals1: | 6 |
| Years2: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs2: | Amiens |
| Caps2: | 17 |
| Goals2: | 2 |
| Years3: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs3: | Antwerp |
| Caps3: | 37 |
| Goals3: | 8 |
| Years4: | 2024– |
| Clubs4: | Monaco |
| Caps4: | 1 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 21:24, 17 August 2024 (UTC) |
George Osrzehmen Ilenikhena (born 16 August 2006) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ligue 1 club Monaco.
George Ilenikhena was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but he arrived in France aged only 3, growing up in Antony, Hauts-de-Seine.[2] [3]
Having made his way through all of the youth levels of the amateur Antony Football Evolution, George Ilenikhena joined the professional club of Amiens that was just relegated to Ligue 2, for the 2021–22 season.[4]
During that season he scored a total of 24 goals for the under-17 national side, also playing and scoring in the Coupe Gambardella.[5] [6] This soon drew the attention of big clubs in France and Abroad during the summer 2022, while he was still just aged 15.[7] [8]
Ilenikhena made his professional debut for the Amiens SC on 19 November 2022, during a 10–0 home Coupe de France win to the Aiglon du Lamentin. He came on as a substitute for Jérémy Gelin, as his side was already 8–0 up.[9] [10] [11]
Having fully moved from the youth teams to the National 3 reserve team,[12] Ilenikhena still kept on training regularly with the first team, even making his first assist in December 2022 during a friendly game against FUS Rabat.[13]
On 29 June 2023, Ilenikhena signed for Belgian Pro League Champions, Royal Antwerp, on a four-year deal,[14] for a reported fee of €6 million.[15] On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.[16] Later that year, on 13 December, he scored his first Champions League goal in the 92nd minute of stoppage time, securing a 3–2 victory against Barcelona to be his club's first ever win in the competition.[17]
On 25 July 2024, Ilenikhena signed for Ligue 1 Club, AS Monaco.
George Ilenikhena first featured with France youth teams in the summer of 2021, as he was selected with the Under-16, along with the likes of Warren Zaïre-Emery.[18]
Ilenikhena is a quick centre-forward, Philippe Hinschberger, the coach of his debut with Amiens, describes him as a strong left-footed player, with an outstanding ability to attack the depth of the field.
He mentioned Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé as his two favorite players.
| Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Amiens B | 2022–23 | Championnat National 3 | 10 | 6 | – | – | – | 10 | 6 | ||||
| Amiens | 2022–23 | Ligue 2 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 18 | 2 | |||
| Royal Antwerp | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 37 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 14 | |
| Monaco | 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 65 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 78 | 22 | |||
Royal Antwerp