Manchester City is reportedly in advanced negotiations with French club Lille for the transfer of 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Premier League club aims to complete the deal this week.
Lille is understood to value Bouaddi at approximately 100 million euros, which equates to about £85.6 million. Bouaddi made an impression during the recent World Cup, featuring in all five of Morocco's matches as they reached the round of 16. He also played a significant role in Lille's Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024.
Described as a deep-lying playmaker, Bouaddi's style is compared to that of Rodri. He could potentially complement summer signing Elliot Anderson, a more box-to-box midfielder. Since making his debut in October 2023, shortly after his 16th birthday, Bouaddi has appeared in 88 matches for Lille and contributed to their third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
This potential acquisition follows news that Manchester City's long-serving midfielder Rodri is nearing a £65 million move to Barcelona. Rodri, who joined City in 2019 for a then-club record £62.8 million, has made 298 appearances and was a key figure in numerous trophy wins. Despite missing parts of the 2024-25 campaign due to a knee injury and a hamstring issue last season, he returned to form, captaining Spain to their second World Cup title and earning player of the tournament honors.
The transfer of Bouaddi could influence Manchester City's pursuit of Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with reports indicating that City manager Enzo Maresca maintains a strong interest in the Argentine player.