Manchester City Agree £86m Deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi: Teenage Midfielder Set for Record Transfer

Manchester City have agreed a deal worth up to £86m to sign 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, in another major step in their midfield rebuild.

City Agree Huge Fee for Lille Star

Manchester City have reached an agreement with Lille for Bouaddi in a deal worth £86m (€100m). The Premier League champions will pay £81.3m up front, with a further £4.3m available in add-ons.

The transfer will make Bouaddi the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history, surpassing Manchester United's £58.9m commitment to Lille for Leny Yoro in 2024.

Lille had been holding out for their valuation of the highly rated midfielder and have now secured the fee they wanted for one of the most exciting young players in European football.

Bouaddi Emerged as a World Cup Breakout Star

Bouaddi's reputation grew significantly during Morocco's World Cup campaign, where the teenager impressed on the biggest international stage despite his age.

His composure, ability in duels and intelligence in possession attracted widespread attention. He was particularly impressive during Morocco's group-stage meeting with Brazil, showing the maturity to compete against far more experienced midfielders.

Capable of playing as either a defensive midfielder or in a more advanced role, Bouaddi offers City versatility as Pep Guardiola's side continue to reshape their midfield.

City Rebuilding After Major Departures

The move is part of a significant midfield rebuild at Manchester City following the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders.

City have already spent a club-record £116m on Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest earlier this summer, while they remain interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and Roma's Manu Kone.

There is also uncertainty surrounding Nico Gonzalez, who has attracted interest from Newcastle, meaning City could yet make further additions before the transfer window closes.

A Major Investment in the Future

Bouaddi's arrival represents another huge investment in youth from City, but the size of the fee underlines how highly the club rate the Moroccan international.

At just 18, he is being brought in not simply as a prospect for the future but as part of City's attempt to rebuild a midfield capable of competing at the highest level.

With his versatility, technical ability and experience already gained on the international stage, City will hope Bouaddi can eventually become a long-term successor to some of the influential midfielders who have recently left the club.

For Lille, meanwhile, the agreement represents another extraordinary piece of business, with Yoro's record teenage transfer now set to be eclipsed by Bouaddi's move to Manchester.