Manchester City close in on Lille midfielder Ayoub Bouadi

Manchester City have moved a step closer to signing Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouadi from French club Lille, according to reports.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano reports that City have reached an agreement with Bouadi and his representatives over personal terms, leaving the Premier League club to negotiate the final details of a transfer with Lille.

Talks between the two clubs are understood to have reached an advanced stage, with the remaining discussions focused on the transfer fee and the structure of the deal.

Bouadi is reportedly keen to honour his commitment to join Manchester City this summer rather than delay the move until 2027, a decision that could help accelerate negotiations between the clubs.

The 19-year-old has attracted significant attention following his impressive performances for Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His displays have placed him among the most highly rated young midfielders in European football.

City were among the clubs to make an early approach for the Lille midfielder, but they have faced competition from several European heavyweights. Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United have all reportedly monitored his progress.

Lille are in a strong negotiating position because Bouadi remains under contract with the French club until June 2029. Reports suggest the Ligue 1 side could demand a fee of around €100m for the midfielder, which would be roughly twice his current market valuation.

The French club had previously indicated that it could be open to selling Bouadi this summer while allowing him to remain at Lille on loan for another season. Such an arrangement would enable the player to continue his development while giving the buying club long-term control of his future.

For Manchester City, Bouadi’s potential arrival would represent another major investment in young talent as the club looks to strengthen its midfield options for the future.

With personal terms reportedly agreed, the next stage of negotiations will centre on whether City and Lille can reach a final agreement over the transfer fee and the structure of the deal.