Manchester City have reportedly reached a full agreement with Lille for highly rated midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the teenage Morocco international set to become one of the most expensive young players in European football.
The agreement is understood to be worth an initial €95 million, with a further €5 million potentially payable in add ons, taking the overall value of the transfer to €100 million. Bouaddi is also set to sign a long term contract with Manchester City that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2031, with the club holding an option to extend the agreement by another year.
The move represents a major statement from Manchester City as the Premier League giants begin to reshape their midfield following the departure of Rodri to Barcelona.
City have been searching for a long term solution in the defensive midfield position after the Spain international completed his move away from the club. Rodri became one of the most influential players in Manchester City’s history during his time in England, helping the club win several major trophies before eventually claiming the Ballon d’Or.
With such a difficult player to replace, manager Enzo Maresca has made it clear that City need to identify the next midfielder capable of developing into a world class player.
Bouaddi has emerged as the club’s preferred candidate, with his performances at both club and international level convincing City’s recruitment team that he has the potential to become a key figure for years to come.
The proposed transfer will also make Bouaddi the most expensive player ever sold by Lille. His departure is expected to surpass the French club’s previous record sale of Nicolas Pepe, who joined Arsenal for a reported €80 million in 2019.
Bouaddi’s rapid rise makes the scale of the transfer particularly remarkable. The midfielder is only 18 years old, yet he has already accumulated considerable senior football experience and established himself as one of the most promising young midfielders in Europe.
He made history with Lille in September 2023 when he became the club’s youngest ever player after making his senior debut at just 16 years and three days old in a European fixture.
Rather than being protected from senior football because of his age, Bouaddi has gradually become an important member of Lille’s first team. During the previous campaign, he made 42 appearances across all competitions as Lille secured third place in Ligue 1 and qualified for the UEFA Champions League.
His performances earned him increasing attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, but his reputation grew considerably during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bouaddi played an important role for Morocco as the Atlas Lions produced an impressive campaign and reached the quarterfinals. He started five of Morocco’s six matches and demonstrated a maturity that appeared far beyond his years.
One of his most impressive performances came against Brazil, where he helped Morocco control the midfield during a closely contested 1 1 draw. His ability to retain possession, dictate the tempo and remain composed under pressure attracted considerable attention from scouts and clubs across Europe.
His international career has also taken an interesting route. Bouaddi represented France at several youth levels, including the Under 16, Under 18, Under 20 and Under 21 categories. However, he later chose to represent Morocco at senior level and officially completed the switch in May 2026.
That decision quickly paid off as he became an important part of Morocco’s midfield during their World Cup campaign.
For Manchester City, Bouaddi’s arrival is about more than simply filling a position left vacant by Rodri. The club appears to be planning for the future by investing heavily in a player who could develop into one of the leading midfielders of his generation.
Although comparisons with Rodri will inevitably follow him, Bouaddi is not expected to immediately replicate everything the former City midfielder offered. Rodri’s tactical intelligence, physical presence, passing range and experience were developed over many years at the highest level.
Instead, Manchester City are likely to give Bouaddi time to adapt to the demands of English football while working under a manager who believes strongly in technical and tactically intelligent midfielders.
The transfer also fits into City’s broader squad rebuilding strategy. Several experienced players have moved on or entered the final stages of their careers, making the recruitment of elite young talent increasingly important.
Bouaddi could therefore become one of the central figures in the next generation of Manchester City’s midfield.
His ability to play as a defensive midfielder while also contributing to build up play makes him particularly attractive to Maresca. The youngster is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, has shown impressive awareness of space and possesses the composure required to operate in the centre of the pitch.
There will inevitably be pressure attached to a €100 million price tag, especially for an 18 year old player. However, Manchester City appear convinced that Bouaddi has the qualities required to justify the enormous investment.
If the deal is completed as expected, the Moroccan will arrive in Manchester with enormous expectations and the difficult task of following in the footsteps of one of the most successful midfielders of the modern era.
For now, City supporters will be hoping that Bouaddi can develop steadily, adapt to the Premier League and eventually establish himself as the new midfield anchor at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City may have lost Rodri, but by securing one of Europe’s most exciting young midfield talents, the club appear determined to ensure that the next era of success does not depend on one player.
