Manchester City has reached an agreement in principle with Moroccan prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi on a contract running through the summer of 2031. The Premier League champions have opened official talks with Lille OSC to secure the signing of one of the breakout stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Bouaddi has given his green light to join Man City, as the club accelerates negotiations to finalize the transfer before rival European giants intervene.
However, Lille’s high valuation could prove to be a stumbling block. The Ligue 1 side is holding out for a transfer fee between €80 million and €100 million, leveraging the 18-year-old’s immense potential, stellar World Cup performances, and high demand across Europe.
Intense negotiations are expected in the coming days. The deal is further complicated by Manchester City’s refusal to loan Bouaddi back to Lille for another season, insisting on adding the midfielder to their squad immediately.
Bouaddi had previously attracted interest from top European clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Chelsea, while Paris Saint-Germain withdrew from the race to prioritize other positions.
Stellar Club & International Breakthrough
The teenage midfielder was a mainstay for Lille in Ligue 1 last season, featuring in 30 out of 34 matches (28 starts) and logging 2,331 minutes with one assist.
His market value skyrocketed following his performances with Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, where he made 6 appearances (384 minutes) to help the Atlas Lions reach the quarter-finals.
Bouaddi’s standout international performance came against Brazil, where he completed 60 out of 66 passes (91% accuracy)—including a perfect 16 out of 16 passes in the final third—while recovering the ball 6 times and winning 9 duels.
The Moroccan talent also made history by becoming the second-youngest player ever to feature in a World Cup quarter-final (at 18 years and 280 days old), behind only Brazilian legend Pelé—a milestone that explains Manchester City’s eagerness to complete a high-value transfer quickly.
