Manchester City have reached a deal with Lille for Morocco international midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi worth up to £86m (€100m), according to press reports.
The City are paying a fixed fee of £81.3m plus £4.3m in add-ons. The British football club are working to rebuild their midfield after the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders.
The transfer of the 18-year-old Moroccan player is set to become the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history, surpassing the £58.9m Manchester United committed to paying Lille for Leny Yoro in 2024.
Lille have secured the fee they were holding out for in negotiations for Bouaddi, who was one of the breakout stars of this summer’s World Cup with Morocco.
During his first major international appearance with the Atlas Lions at the World Cup 2026 match against Brazil, the frizzy-haired young player stole the show. His outstanding performance quickly became a focal point of discussion across European and international sports media, with specialist outlets portraying him as the true driving force behind Morocco’s display.
According to experts, what stood out was his confidence; Bouaddi was never cowed up against the experienced pairing of Bruno Guimaraes and Casemiro. He recorded 87 touches that day, more than any of his team-mates, as he dictated the tempo of play.
His innate composure and confidence enable him to dribble his way out of pressure. Using his long (186cm), wiry frame to protect the ball, he combines close control with a sharp change of direction, spinning away in a tight circle.
The transfer makes Bouaddi the most expensive Moroccan player in history, surpassing Achraf Hakimi’s €68 million move from Inter Milan to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. It also establishes a new record for the highest fee paid for a player leaving Ligue 1, eclipsing Neymar’s €90 million transfer from PSG to Al-Hilal.
At just 18, Bouaddi now ranks among the most expensive teenage signings in football history.
Only Kylian Mbappé’s €180 million move from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain remains higher.
The highly rated central midfielder, already capped by the Moroccan national team, leaves Lille after establishing himself as one of Europe’s most promising young talents.
