Manchester City is poised to finalize the acquisition of Moroccan teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi for an initial fee of £81.4 million. The agreement with French club Lille was reached shortly before Manchester City's Premier League season opener against Bournemouth.
The transfer includes an initial payment of £81 million, with an additional £4.3 million contingent on bonuses. Bouaddi, an 18-year-old Morocco international, has been withdrawn from Lille's match against Angers and is scheduled to undergo a medical examination.
This signing represents a significant reinforcement for manager Enzo Maresca, whose squad has seen its midfield depth diminished by the departures of Rodri to Barcelona and Bernardo Silva's free transfer to Real Madrid. Manchester City has reportedly spent approximately £200 million this summer and anticipates further activity in the transfer market during its closing week as the club seeks to enhance its squad quality.
Maresca had previously indicated a desire for around 20 senior outfield players. With Omar Marmoush anticipated to join Tottenham and ongoing discussions with Newcastle United regarding Nico Gonzalez, the need for additional players has become more pressing.
Despite his youth, Bouaddi has accumulated nearly a century of professional appearances and garnered attention for his performances at the recent World Cup. Lille had initially aimed to retain the midfielder for the current season, but Manchester City pushed for an immediate transfer. The club is also reportedly interested in Palmeiras winger Allan.