Maresca urges patience with Manchester City’s record teenage signing

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca says new signing Ayyoub Bouaddi is fit and available for Friday’s Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace, although he warned there would be no rush to place pressure on the 18-year-old midfielder.

Bouaddi joined Manchester City from Lille on Wednesday in a deal worth an estimated €95m, with a further €5m potentially payable in bonuses. The transfer made him the most expensive Under-19 player in football history.

Manchester City travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Friday evening, and Bouaddi could be involved only days after completing his move to the Etihad Stadium.

The Morocco international made a strong impression at the 2026 World Cup, where his country reached the quarter-finals. He has also already played 96 senior matches for Lille, despite being only 18.

Bouaddi featured in two pre-season friendlies for Lille this summer, against Hamburg and Everton. However, he was left out of their opening Ligue 1 fixture away to Angers as negotiations over his move to Manchester City were completed.

Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Maresca confirmed that Bouaddi was in condition to be considered for the trip to Crystal Palace.

“He is ready, he was training with his former club, so he is fit,” Maresca said. “We will see how long the adaptation takes, but for sure, he is ready to go.”

Maresca also highlighted the teenager’s composure but stressed that Manchester City must manage his introduction carefully.

“He is quite calm. He does not look his age, he looks older than 18, which is important, but in his case, we have to go step by step because he is young and he comes from a different country,” he said.

“There is no rush for him. For sure, he is going to help us, now and in the future, but he is only 18. It is my job, and it is the club’s job, to manage him well and not put pressure on him. He is young and he needs time.”

Bouaddi is expected to compete with Elliot Anderson, Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly for a starting place in Maresca’s midfield.

The departures of Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez have created an opening in that area of the squad, meaning Bouaddi could have a genuine opportunity to establish himself if he adapts quickly to his new surroundings.

His arrival comes after an accelerated rise at Lille, where he had already made close to 100 first-team appearances before moving abroad. Manchester City will now decide whether to introduce him at Selhurst Park or allow him more time to settle into the club’s training programme and tactical demands.

For now, Maresca’s message is that Bouaddi is physically prepared to play, but that his long-term development will take priority over an immediate first appearance.