Manchester City have agreed a deal worth up to £86 million (€100m) with Lille to sign Morocco international midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, made up of a fixed fee of £81.3 million plus a further £4.3 million in add-ons. The move makes the 18-year-old the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history, surpassing the £58.9 million Manchester United paid Lille for Leny Yoro back in 2024.
Lille Secure the Fee They Wanted
Lille had been holding out for this exact valuation throughout negotiations, and City’s willingness to meet it reflects how highly Bouaddi is rated following a breakout World Cup campaign with Morocco this summer.
Part of a Wider Midfield Rebuild
City are in the process of reshaping their midfield after the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders this summer. For Sunday’s game against Bournemouth, England international Marc Guehi was used centrally in midfield a reflection of just how much cover City currently need in that area.
Bouaddi’s arrival follows City’s own record-breaking £116 million deal for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest earlier in the window, and the club remain active elsewhere too, with reported interest in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Roma’s Manu Kone as further midfield options, amid ongoing uncertainty over the future of Newcastle target Nico Gonzalez. Bouaddi himself is capable of playing as either a deep-lying defensive midfielder or in a more advanced role, giving City valuable tactical flexibility.
Why City Are Willing to Spend Big on a Teenager
Bouaddi made a real name for himself during Morocco’s World Cup campaign this summer, standing out for his composure and effortless dominance on the big stage in just his first major international tournament a performance against Brazil in the group stage was particularly eye-catching. Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, whose Brazilian midfield featured the experienced pairing of Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes, reportedly found himself once again facing an opposition player who simply won more individual battles than his own a pattern that echoed similar experiences Ancelotti has had against other standout young talents in the past.
Quick Facts: Bouaddi to Man City
- Fee: £86m (£81.3m fixed + £4.3m add-ons)
- Record status: Most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history
- Previous record: £58.9m (Leny Yoro, Lille to Man Utd, 2024)
- Departures being replaced: Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders
- Other City midfield targets: Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Manu Kone (Roma)
- Playing style: Versatile can play as a No.6 or more advanced midfielder
