Manchester City have secured the services of Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a substantial £85.6m deal. The 18-year-old has committed to a five-year contract, pending international clearance, with City paying £81.4m upfront and a further £4.2m in add-ons.
Bouaddi's arrival follows City's recent midfield departures, including Rodri to Barcelona for £65m and Tijjani Reinders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m. He will join England midfielder Elliot Anderson, who arrived from Nottingham Forest for £116m, as part of a revamped midfield.
The young midfielder made a significant impact at this summer's World Cup, starting five of Morocco's six matches during their run to the quarter-finals. Bouaddi expressed his excitement, stating, "This is a very special day for me and my family. Manchester City are, for me, the best club in the world. It's a dream to be here and be able to call myself a City player."
Bouaddi, who made 96 appearances for Lille, became the youngest player to feature for the French side on his senior debut in 2023. He also played a key role in Lille's Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024.