Manchester City agree €100m deal in principle for Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City have agreed a deal in principle with Lille to sign 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi in a package worth €100 million (£85.6 million), according to BBC Sport. The agreement would see City pay an initial £81.4 million, with a further £4.2 million available in add-ons. The transfer has not yet been described as complete.

Watch the highlights:

BBC Sport reported earlier in the week that negotiations between the clubs were at an advanced stage. Its latest report says an agreement is now in place and Bouaddi is set to complete what it described as a protracted move to England. The teenager is a Morocco international and played a prominent role for his country at this summer’s World Cup.

Bouaddi started five of Morocco’s six matches as the team reached the World Cup quarter-finals. His rise had already attracted attention in European club football, particularly after he helped Lille beat Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2024, a match played on his 17th birthday.

The midfielder has made 88 appearances for Lille since his senior debut in October 2023, which came three days after his 16th birthday. He became the youngest player to represent the French club and later surpassed a mark held by Eden Hazard by reaching 50 Ligue 1 appearances at 18. Lille finished third in Ligue 1 last season with Bouaddi involved.

City have made central midfield a priority after selling Rodri to Barcelona for £65 million and Tijjani Reijnders to Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah for £52 million, the BBC reported. They have already signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million. The report also says City remain interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, although it is unclear whether an agreement can be reached.

Bouaddi is generally deployed as a deep-lying midfielder, while Anderson can operate in a box-to-box role or as a number six. The deal in principle gives City a route to add another young option to that rebuilt area of the squad, but the remaining steps must still be completed before Bouaddi can formally become a City player.