Manchester City agree €100m deal to make Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi their latest midfield signing

Manchester City are finalising a club-record €100m transfer for LOSC Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the 18-year-old expected to complete a move to the Premier League champions imminently.

Transfer specialists Fabrizio Romano and Fabrice Hawkins of RMC report that Manchester City have reached an agreement with the French club for the Morocco international, who has emerged as one of Europe’s most highly regarded young midfielders.

Bouaddi is understood to have already agreed personal terms with Manchester City, meaning no major difficulties are expected before the transfer is officially confirmed. He will not feature for Lille in their Ligue 1 match against Angers on Sunday afternoon, further indicating that the move is close to completion.

The proposed fee would make the deal a major investment for Manchester City, who are believed to have identified Bouaddi as the successor to Rodri. The Spanish midfielder joined FC Barcelona at the beginning of the summer for €70m.

Manchester City had been expected to recruit a replacement and had followed Bouaddi closely for some time. The club’s interest intensified after his performances for Morocco at last summer’s World Cup, where the defensive midfielder made a strong impression.

The path to a regular role at Manchester City has also opened following the departures of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders. Bouaddi is therefore being lined up as an important addition to the club’s midfield options, despite his age.

Bouaddi became a key player for Lille during the previous campaign and has established himself as an undisputed starter in France. Lille are currently third in the Ligue 1 table, with the teenager playing a significant role in their strong position.

He has made 96 appearances for LOSC Lille and has registered four assists. His rapid rise at club and international level has helped attract attention from several leading European sides, although Manchester City now appear to have won the race for his signature.

The reported €100m fee would underline the club’s confidence in Bouaddi’s potential and reflect the importance of the role he is expected to fill. While the agreement between the two clubs is reportedly in place, formal confirmation of the transfer is still awaited.

Bouaddi’s absence from Lille’s squad to face Angers is the latest sign that the long-anticipated move is nearing completion. Barring an unexpected change, he will soon leave France and begin the next stage of his career at Manchester City.