Man City sign Lille midfielder Bouaddi for £85.6m

Manchester City have completed the acquisition of Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a deal worth a total of £85.6 million. The 18-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year contract, subject to international clearance, with City paying an initial £81.4 million upfront alongside £4.2 million in add-ons.

Enzo Maresca's side moved swiftly into the transfer market to secure Bouaddi following the departures of central midfielder Rodri to Barcelona for £65 million and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah for £52 million. These exits left the Premier League giants in urgent need of reinforcements to overhaul their engine room ahead of upcoming fixtures.

Bouaddi accumulated 96 appearances for Lille after making his senior debut in 2023, playing a key role in helping the French outfit finish third in Ligue 1 last term. At just 16 years old, he wrote his name in the history books by becoming the youngest player to feature for the club during a Europa League match against Faroese club KI, before announcing his arrival on the global stage with a standout performance in Lille's Champions League win over Real Madrid in 2024.

"I have spent most of my life working hard to become the best player I can be and reach the top of the game."

Ayyoub Bouaddi

The teenager will slot into a revamped midfield setup alongside Elliot Anderson, whom City previously brought in from Nottingham Forest for £116 million. Bouaddi operates as a deep-lying conductor, a profile expected to complement Anderson, who is equally capable of operating as a box-to-box midfielder or in the number six role he frequently occupies for England.