Ayyoub Bouaddi agrees terms with Manchester City as Lille transfer talks continue

Manchester City have reached a full verbal agreement with 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with negotiations between the two clubs now focused on the final details of a potential transfer.

The English runners-up have made significant progress in discussions with Bouaddi and his representatives, putting them at the front of the race for the Morocco international. German journalist Florian Plettenberg reports that the player has agreed terms verbally with Manchester City.

A deal is not yet complete, however. Manchester City and Lille still need to settle the structure and conditions of the transfer before the move can be formally concluded.

Bouaddi has emerged as one of the most highly regarded young players in European football after a series of impressive performances last season. Those displays attracted attention from several of the continent’s leading clubs, but Manchester City have moved ahead by negotiating directly with the midfielder’s representatives.

The player, who was born in Senlis, remains under contract with Lille until 2029. His current valuation is reported to be €50m.

Bouaddi is said to earn an annual salary of €1.09m (£?; 708,500,000 FCFA) at Lille. The reported terms of his existing contract underline the scale of the investment that would be required to take him away from the French club, although an agreement over the transfer fee has still to be reached.

Manchester City’s progress comes after their discussions with the player’s camp produced what is described as a complete verbal understanding. The remaining negotiations are therefore between the clubs, with the final financial and contractual arrangements yet to be agreed.

Lille are scheduled to play Hamburg in a pre-season friendly soon. Ahead of that match, betting company 1xBet lists Lille as the favourites, with a price of 1.77 for a home win. A draw is priced at 3.45, while Hamburg are listed at 2.94 to win.

The expected transfer has placed further focus on Bouaddi’s development at Lille. The midfielder’s performances last season established him as one of the prominent prospects in European football, while his Morocco international status has added to his profile.

For now, Bouaddi remains a Lille player and is contracted to the club for a further three years beyond the current season. Manchester City’s verbal agreement with the teenager represents a major step towards a transfer, but the move will only be finalised once an agreement has been reached with Lille’s directors.