Manchester City have agreed terms in principle with Lille to sign 18-year-old French-born Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi in a deal valued at an initial €95m plus add-ons. The total package could reach €100m, with the teenager set to sign a five-year contract that includes an option for an additional 12 months at the Etihad Stadium.
The move comes as new manager Enzo Maresca actively reshapes City’s midfield following high-profile summer departures, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri to Barcelona. Bouaddi, who stood out during Morocco’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals, gives City a dynamic option capable of anchoring the midfield or playing further forward alongside fellow new arrival Elliot Anderson.
With the player omitted from Lille’s squad over the weekend ahead of his scheduled medical, the transfer is expected to be finalized swiftly before the summer window closes. The arrival of the highly rated teenager marks another major investment by the Premier League champions as they continue their squad rebuild for the 2026/27 campaign.