Manchester City Nears Agreement for Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City is on the verge of finalizing a deal for defensive midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, currently at Lille, with sources indicating the club aims to complete the transaction this week. City has reportedly agreed on personal terms with Bouaddi for a five-year contract and has accepted Lille’s asking price of €100 million (£87.5 million), a figure that reflects the rising star’s prominence following his performance in the 2026 World Cup.

Negotiations between Manchester City and Lille will focus on the structure of the deal and potential bonuses, with all parties hopeful for a swift resolution. City’s sporting director, Hugo Viana, has maintained ongoing communication with Lille president Olivier Letang throughout the summer as City sought to secure the 18-year-old talent, once waiting on the outcome of the Rodri situation.

The transfer of Rodri to Barcelona for €76.5 million (£65 million) has cleared the path for Bouaddi’s anticipated arrival at the Etihad. The midfielder, recognized as a top talent of his generation, attracted interest from several elite clubs, including Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, amidst this summer’s transfer window.

Following City’s signing of Elliot Anderson for €135 million (£116 million), securing Bouaddi would represent another significant investment for the club. Bouaddi was recently seen celebrating with Lille fans after their friendly match against Everton on August 15, which may have been his final appearance for the Ligue 1 outfit.

He played a crucial role in Morocco’s journey to the World Cup quarterfinals, becoming the youngest African teenager to achieve five appearances at the tournament. Bouaddi has pledged his international future to Morocco after previously representing France at various youth levels, including captaining the U21 team as recently as March.

In addition to Bouaddi, City’s manager Enzo Maresca is seeking to acquire Enzo Fernández to replace Tijjani Reijnders, who is set to join Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia. City remains resolute despite Chelsea’s transfer deadline of August 14 for the Argentine international.

Manchester City faced a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the recent FA Community Shield and will kick off their Premier League season at home against Bournemouth on August 23.

Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn