Manchester United are being linked with a move for Lille’s highly rated midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to transfer data collated on 21 December 2025.
The 18-year-old central midfielder, valued at €40.00m on Transfermarkt, is rumoured to be on United’s radar as they continue to monitor emerging talent across Europe. The same data lists the probability of the move only as “?”, underlining that discussions remain firmly in the realms of speculation rather than any advanced negotiation.
Bouaddi is currently on the books at Lille, where he wears the number 32 shirt and is registered with the first team after progressing rapidly through the club’s youth ranks. There is no public information in the data about the length of his current deal or any expiry date, leaving open the theoretical possibility he could become a free agent in the future, a factor that often fuels transfer talk around young prospects.
Born in Senlis on 2 October 2007, Bouaddi stands at 1.86m and plays predominantly as a central midfielder, operating with his right foot. He holds both French and Moroccan nationality, something that may add to his appeal as clubs assess his international potential as well as his club value.
The Lille academy product has moved steadily through the levels: from LOSC Lille Youth to the U17s in 2022, then to the U19s in early 2023, before stepping up to the senior side ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. During that period his market value has risen sharply, climbing from €5m in December 2023 to a listed €40m by mid-December 2025, reflecting his growing reputation in Ligue 1.
If Manchester United decide to firm up their reported interest, any move to the Premier League could become a pivotal step in Bouaddi’s development and determine how quickly he converts promise into a leading role on the European stage.
