Manchester City have reached a full agreement with Lille to sign 18-year-old midfield prodigy Ayyoub Bouaddi in a deal worth up to €100 million (£85.6m).
Manchester City Secure €100m Deal for Moroccan Teen Sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi
The Premier League champions will pay an initial €95 million (£81.4m) plus a further €5 million in potential add-ons for the Morocco international.
🚨 BREAKING: Manchester City reach agreement with Lille to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi. Deal for 18yo #LOSC midfielder worth €95m + €5m bonuses on 5+1yr contract. #MCFC land Morocco int’l; key target following Rodri departure @TheAthleticFC after @FabriceHawkins https://t.co/Q7TipkndLi
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 23, 2026
The teenager has agreed to a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, with the option of an additional season.
The highly-rated midfielder was conspicuously left out of Lille’s squad for their Ligue 1 opener against Angers on Sunday, clearing the way for his move to England.
The fee represents a record sale for the French club, surpassing the €80 million Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pépé in 2019, and will make Bouaddi the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history.
City manager Enzo Maresca remained guarded when asked about the deal following his side’s 2-1 Premier League opening victory over Bournemouth.
“To be honest, I didn’t see anyone from the club. So after the press conference, I will see them,” Maresca told reporters.
“So please wait because I don’t know if there’s any updates at the moment. Probably you’re more up to date than me. I don’t know yet.”
Bouaddi arrives as a key part of City’s midfield rebuild following the departures of Rodri to Barcelona, Bernardo Silva, and Tijjani Reijnders.
The 18-year-old burst onto the scene as Lille’s youngest-ever player when he debuted at just 16 years and three days old in October 2023.
He has since amassed 88 appearances for the French side and played a starring role for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, starting five of six matches as the Atlas Lions reached the quarter-finals.
Bouaddi, who primarily operates as a deep-lying midfielder, had attracted interest from Europe’s elite including Manchester United, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Liverpool before City secured his signature.
