Manchester City are set to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a deal worth up to €100m, with Fabrizio Romano confirming a ‘here we go’ on Saturday. The 18-year-old central midfielder flew to Manchester on August 23 and stood down from Lille’s Ligue 1 match against Angers the following day, with Sacha Tavolieri reporting that medical tests are scheduled for Monday.
David Ornstein of The Athletic confirmed the financial structure as a €95m initial fee plus €5m in add-ons, with Bouaddi set to sign a five-year contract that includes an option for a sixth year. The transfer would represent a record sale in Lille’s history and reportedly a record for any Ligue 1 club selling abroad.
The deal itself
Romano’s post on X read: ‘BREAKING: Ayyoub Bouaddi to Manchester City, here we go! Deal agreed club to club. Fee to reach €100m package with add-ons. Green light from Lille to the sale. Bouaddi agreed terms with City in July and is now set to join the Man City project.’ RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins was first to report the €100m headline figure, with Ornstein and Tavolieri subsequently adding detail on the fee structure and contract.
Lille sporting coordinator Sylvain Armand had already signaled on Ligue1 TV that an agreement was close, saying ‘details remain, but the agreement is not far away.’ Bouaddi had agreed personal terms with City back in July, so the club-to-club negotiation was the only remaining hurdle before the deal was formally completed.
Why City moved for Bouaddi
The signing is directly tied to two significant departures from the Etihad. Rodri was sold to Barcelona for £65m the previous week, while Bernardo Silva joined Real Madrid. Head coach Enzo Maresca views Bouaddi as a long-term answer to the void left by both players in City’s midfield. City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak was reportedly impressed by Bouaddi’s performances in high-stakes matches, which gave the club confidence to commit a nine-figure fee for a player who only turned 18 this year.
Combined with the £116m signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, the Bouaddi deal takes City’s summer outlay to nearly £200m. The club also remain interested in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, though a gap persists between Chelsea’s £120m asking price and City’s valuation.
Who Bouaddi is
Bouaddi operates as a central or defensive midfielder, the classic No. 6 role. He made his Lille debut in October 2023, coming on in a Conference League group-stage game aged 16 years and three days, which made him the youngest player ever to appear in that competition. He has since accumulated between 88 and 96 first-team appearances for the club, depending on the source.
His summer only reinforced his reputation. Bouaddi started five of Morocco’s six games at the 2026 World Cup, including the quarter-final, a 2-0 defeat by France, and those appearances represented only his eighth senior international cap. His age, his position, and his composure under pressure in a major tournament persuaded City to move quickly and pay a premium fee.
What it means for Lille
For Lille, the sale is the largest in the club’s history and a landmark moment for French football more broadly. The reported record for a Ligue 1 player sold to a foreign club underlines how the league has become a serious pipeline for Europe’s biggest clubs, with Lille in particular having built a track record of identifying and developing elite talent.
Armand’s public comments suggested the club were resigned to the sale rather than fighting to keep their academy product. With the fee potentially reaching €100m, Lille will have significant resources to reinvest, though replacing a player of Bouaddi’s profile and trajectory is a separate challenge.
FAQ
How much are Manchester City paying for Ayyoub Bouaddi?
Manchester City have agreed a fee of €95m with Lille, with up to €5m more available in add-ons, making the total package worth up to €100m.
How old is Ayyoub Bouaddi and what position does he play?
Bouaddi is 18 years old and plays as a central or defensive midfielder, typically in the No. 6 role.
How long is Bouaddi’s contract at Manchester City?
Bouaddi is set to sign a five-year deal at Manchester City, with an option for an additional 12 months included in the agreement.