Casablanca – Manchester City have reached an agreement with Lille to sign Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi in a deal that could reach €100 million, according to reports in the British media.
The Guardian reports that City have agreed to pay €95 million (£81.4 million) up front, with a further €5 million available in potential add-ons.
The Times separately reports that the overall package is worth £85 million, including £4 million in add-ons, with Bouaddi expected to sign a five-year contract containing an option for an additional season.
The newspaper also reports that the 18-year-old would become the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history.
The agreement would bring Bouaddi closer to a move that has gathered momentum since his impressive World Cup campaign with Morocco.
Bouaddi was left out of Lille’s Ligue 1 meeting with Angers, with his absence reportedly linked to preparations for his medical with City. The transfer is expected to be completed once the remaining formalities are concluded.
A record-breaking deal
The reported fee would underline just how highly City and Lille value Bouaddi.
The Times says the Moroccan would surpass the previous Premier League record for a teenage transfer, previously held by Leny Yoro following his move to Manchester United for £59 million.
Bouaddi has enjoyed a remarkable rise since making his Lille first-team debut in October 2023, aged just 16 years and three days. That appearance also made him the youngest player to feature in the UEFA Conference League.
His performances have since turned him into one of Europe’s most closely watched young midfielders, with City now preparing to make a major investment in his long-term development.
Rodri sale helps fund Bouaddi move
The transfer comes shortly after City agreed to sell Rodri to Barcelona for around £65 million, with the departure of the Ballon d’Or winner leaving a significant gap in midfield.
City had already invested heavily in the position, bringing in England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million earlier in the summer.
City are also continuing to monitor Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández, although a deal for the Argentina international would require another major financial commitment.
For Bouaddi, however, the proposed move represents the latest step in a rapid ascent that has taken him from becoming one of Lille’s youngest-ever first-team players to starring for Morocco at a World Cup and now approaching one of the biggest transfers ever involving a teenager.
