Manchester City closing in on record £112m deal for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City are close to reaching an agreement with Lille for Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi in a deal that could be worth up to €130m, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.

The 18-year-old midfielder is expected to leave Lille for the Premier League champions, despite interest from a number of other clubs. Discussions between the two sides are described as being at an advanced stage, while Manchester City are also understood to have reached a principle agreement with the player.

If completed at the reported value, the transfer would represent one of the biggest deals of the summer for a young footballer. It would also be a significant investment by Manchester City in a player they regard as an important part of the club’s future midfield plans.

City are looking to strengthen in the centre of the pitch and are preparing for the possible departure of Rodri to FC Barcelona. The Spain international’s move to the Catalan club is becoming increasingly likely, according to the report, creating a potential need for City to find a long-term successor.

Bouaddi remains under contract with Lille until June 2029. The midfielder, who was born in Senlis, has a current estimated value of €80m, based on the latest update from Transfermarkt. His reported annual salary at Lille is €1.09m, equivalent to 708.5m CFA francs.

Despite the progress made in negotiations, the proposed transfer has not yet been finalised. Manchester City and Lille still need to complete the remaining stages of the deal before the move can be formally confirmed.

Bouaddi’s potential €130m transfer would be considerably higher than his current Transfermarkt valuation and would underline the level of confidence Manchester City have placed in his ability. The reported fee would also make the move a landmark deal in the development of one of Europe’s most highly rated young midfielders.

Lille are due to begin their French league campaign against Angers shortly. The match is listed with the following betting odds from 1xbet: Lille to win at 1.60, a draw at 3.55 and an Angers victory at 4.65. 1xbet also advertises a downloadable betting application.

The immediate focus for Lille will therefore be the opening-day fixture, although the club’s negotiations with Manchester City could soon dominate attention around Bouaddi’s future. With a principle agreement reportedly in place between City and the player and talks between the clubs progressing, the transfer appears increasingly likely to move forward, subject to finalising the deal.