Ayyoub Bouaddi’s Manchester City transfer is set to go ahead after the two clubs agreed a deal in principle worth €100 million (£86m) for the 18-year-old Lille midfielder, with the Morocco international now on course to complete his move to England.
BBC Sport reported earlier this week that City and Lille were in advanced talks over a transfer for Bouaddi. An agreement is now in place, ending a protracted pursuit of the teenager by the Premier League club.
Ayyoub Bouaddi Manchester City fee breakdown
According to Morocco World News, the structure of the deal sees City pay €95 million upfront, with a further €5 million available in potential add-ons, taking the total to €100 million. Football365 reported that Bouaddi has agreed personal terms on a contract running until 2031, tying him to the club for the long term should the deal be finalised.
City have prioritised central midfield as an area for investment after selling midfielders Rodri and Tijani Reinders. Bouaddi has been identified as a key target to fill that gap.
A record-breaking teenager from Lille
Bouaddi arrives with a record already to his name. Morocco World News reported that he was just 16 years and three days old when he made his first appearance for Lille in October 2023, making him the youngest player ever to feature in the UEFA Conference League. His progress since has been rapid, earning him a place in Morocco’s senior international squad and attracting interest from one of European football’s leading clubs.
The teenager is set to join Enzo Maresca’s side and will be among the youngest players in the Manchester City first-team squad. City will be hoping the fee, one of the larger outlays the club has made on a player of his age, is repaid over the course of what is expected to be a lengthy contract.
Fernandez interest remains but deal uncertain
Bouaddi is not the only midfielder City are tracking. The club remain interested in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, though BBC Sport noted it remains to be seen whether a deal for the Argentina international can be struck. The pursuit of Fernandez represents a separate strand of City’s transfer business, and no agreement has been reported for that move.
City’s focus on the midfield positions reflects the scale of the rebuilding task following the departures of Rodri and Reinders. Between them, the two players represented a significant portion of the club’s central-midfield options, and the recruitment of a player of Bouaddi’s profile signals the club’s intent to reinvest heavily in that area.
With the Bouaddi deal now agreed in principle and a contract until 2031 reportedly in place, the remaining step is for the transfer to be formally concluded. Morocco World News reported that Bouaddi has already completed his medical, placing the move in its final stages.
