Ayyoub Bouaddi: Man City eye €80m move for Lille and Morocco midfielder

Ayyoub Bouaddi, the French-born Morocco international midfielder currently at Lille, is being strongly linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City. The 18-year-old central midfielder, under contract with the Ligue 1 club until June 2029, is rated as having a 73% chance of completing the transfer, with his valuation standing at around €80m.

Bouaddi has already amassed significant top-level experience for his age, making 63 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille since stepping up from the club’s youth ranks in 2023. He has also featured regularly in European competition, including the Champions League and Europa League, as Lille have increasingly relied on him in central midfield.

Born in Senlis and eligible for both Morocco and France, the right-footed 1.85m midfielder has also been involved on the biggest international stage, making five appearances at the 2026 World Cup. He started the majority of those matches, underlining his growing status at international level.

Lille promoted Bouaddi from their youth system in 2023 after he had progressed through their U17 and U19 sides, having initially joined from Creil as a youth player. The long-term contract he signed through to 2029 places the French club in a strong position in any negotiations, with City likely needing to come close to his current €80m valuation to secure a deal.

For now, Bouaddi remains a key part of Lille’s midfield and is tied to the club for another three years, leaving any potential buyer aware that Lille are under no immediate pressure to sell.