Inframe News – Manchester City have completed the signing of Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, adding one of Europe’s most highly rated young midfielders to their squad. The 18-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Premier League club. The deal is reported to be worth around £86 million, although the clubs did not officially disclose the financial details.
Bouaddi arrives at City after a rapid rise at Lille, where he became the club’s youngest-ever first-team player when he made his debut shortly after turning 16. He went on to make 96 appearances for the French side across all competitions. His development has been particularly impressive considering he has already spent three full seasons playing senior football.
The midfielder also made a strong impression during the 2025-26 season, featuring in 30 Ligue 1 matches as Lille finished third and secured Champions League qualification. Bouaddi was not simply being used as a prospect for the future, as he was already trusted with important responsibilities in the middle of the pitch. His performances helped push him into the spotlight well beyond France.
His international career has moved quickly as well. Bouaddi made his senior debut for Morocco in May and was then selected for their 2026 World Cup squad. He started five of Morocco’s six matches at the tournament as they reached the quarter-finals, giving him experience on one of football’s biggest stages at an unusually young age.
Manchester City have been looking for solutions in midfield after a major reshuffle this summer. Rodri has left for Barcelona, while Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders have also departed. Nico González is now heading to Newcastle, leaving new manager Enzo Maresca with plenty of changes to make in the centre of the pitch.
City had already invested heavily in midfield before completing Bouaddi’s arrival. England international Elliot Anderson joined from Nottingham Forest in a deal worth £116 million, giving Maresca another young option in the centre. Bouaddi now becomes another major part of the club’s attempt to rebuild the position rather than simply replacing one player with another.
The size of Bouaddi’s transfer fee has also attracted plenty of attention. The Guardian reports that the agreement is worth €95 million, or around £81.4 million, with another €5 million potentially available through add-ons. That could take the total value close to €100 million, making the teenager the most expensive player under 18 ever signed by an English club.
Despite his age, Bouaddi is not arriving at City without serious experience. He played European football for Lille from the age of 16 and has already dealt with the pressure of playing for Morocco at a World Cup. His tactical intelligence and disciplined style have been among the qualities that attracted City to him.
Former Lille academy recruiter Mathieu Frison has described Bouaddi as an exceptionally intelligent player, with his ability to read the game standing out from a young age. Away from football, Bouaddi is also studying mathematics and enjoys playing chess. Those interests have added to his reputation as a player who combines technical ability with strong analytical thinking.
The move also continues a recruitment strategy that has seen City target younger players during their midfield rebuild. Before Bouaddi arrived, the club had already been linked with Roma midfielder Manu Koné as another potential option for Maresca. City were also reported to be interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández, although Chelsea’s valuation remained a major obstacle.
Bouaddi’s arrival had been taking shape for several weeks before City officially announced the transfer. Reports earlier in August said the midfielder had already agreed personal terms with the club, while City and Lille worked on the final details of the agreement. The expected transfer also coincided with the move that eventually took Rodri to Barcelona.
Now that the deal is complete, Bouaddi joins a Manchester City squad that is going through one of its biggest midfield changes in recent years. Maresca has already acknowledged that the team is still a work in progress after a busy summer transfer window. The new midfielder will therefore arrive at a club where competition for places is already intense, particularly with Anderson also joining as part of the rebuild.
