Villarreal is interested in George Ilenikhena. Ekrem Konur reports that his profile appeals to many European recruiters. Clubs are promising more responsibilities to Ilenikhena and are positioning for a potential transfer in 2026. Monaco is not in a hurry, as the player's contract runs until June 2029. No firm decision has been made yet, but a significant offer could influence the situation. George Ilenikhena is paid 690,000 euros per year.

Villarreal has expressed interest in acquiring George Ilenikhena, a Nigerian-French player, to strengthen their attacking lineup following Thierno Barry's move to Everton. However, AS Monaco is determined to keep Ilenikhena, as they intend to further develop the young athlete. The club has made it clear that they have no plans to let him leave, viewing him as a key component of their future strategy, with his contract valid until June 2029. At just 18, Ilenikhena has shown considerable potential, even with the competition he faces from other strikers at Monaco, and the club highly values his prospective contributions. Currently, Monaco has decided against any transfer, opting instead to foster Ilenikhena's development within their team. The player has also caught the attention of German clubs Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart, and his market value is estimated at €15.00m according to Transfermarkt.