City Secure Midfield Talent
City Secure Midfield Talent
Manchester City have reached an agreement with Lille for the transfer of Morocco international midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The deal is valued at up to £86m. City will pay a fixed fee of £81.3m, with an additional £4.3m in add-ons. This move positions the 18-year-old to become the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history.
Bouaddi’s transfer surpasses the previous record set in 2024 when Manchester United committed £58.9m for Leny Yoro, also from Lille. Lille had maintained a specific fee during negotiations for Bouaddi, who gained recognition during this summer’s World Cup with Morocco.
City’s pursuit of Bouaddi comes as the club aims to reinforce its midfield following the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Tijjani Reijnders. For their recent game against Bournemouth, Marc Guehi started in central midfield. The club is also reportedly interested in Chelsea‘s Enzo Fernandez and Roma‘s Manu Kone as potential options to further strengthen the midfield, amidst ongoing uncertainty regarding Nico Gonzalez‘s future, who is a target for Newcastle.
Bouaddi’s Impact and City’s Strategy
Bouaddi’s arrival follows City’s record-breaking £116m acquisition of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest earlier in the transfer window. The young midfielder is versatile, capable of playing as a defensive midfielder or in a more advanced role, which will provide City with additional options in the middle of the park.
During Morocco’s World Cup campaign, Bouaddi’s performances drew attention, particularly in a group-stage match against Brazil. He excelled in his role at his first major international tournament. Carlo Ancelotti reportedly noted Bouaddi’s effectiveness in duels during that match, where he stood out against Brazil’s experienced midfield of Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes.
Bouaddi has made appearances for Lille since his debut in October 2023. He became the youngest player to feature for Lille when he debuted against KI in 2023. Last season, he contributed to Lille’s third-place finish in Ligue 1. He also surpassed a record held by Eden Hazard by making Ligue 1 appearances for Lille at the age of 18.
Midfield Rebuild Continues
The acquisition of Bouaddi aligns with head coach Enzo Maresca‘s stated desire to find a replacement for Rodri, who moved to Barcelona. Maresca has previously highlighted City’s history of successfully replacing key players, citing examples such as Kevin De Bruyne following David Silva, and Erling Haaland after Sergio Agüero.
City’s interest in Bouaddi was noted even before his prominent role in Morocco’s World Cup campaign. His performances at the tournament reportedly led Lille to set a high asking price. The club’s decision to back Maresca in the transfer market comes after a defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend.
Despite the significant investment in Bouaddi and Anderson, there is an expectation that City might still be looking for another midfielder, especially with Bernardo Silva also having departed this summer. Reports indicate that the pursuit of Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez is still a possibility. Other players mentioned as potential targets include Alex Scott of Bournemouth, Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace, and Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool.
The transfer window remains active for City, with potential further sales also anticipated. Savinho is reportedly linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, who are also expected to bid for Omar Marmoush. Additionally, Nico Gonzalez, one of the club’s midfielders from last season, is thought to have received approval for a summer exit to Newcastle United.
Source: skysports.com
