Bouaddi transfer resets French and Moroccan records after Manchester City move

Ayyoub Bouaddi has officially completed his move from LOSC to Manchester City in a deal worth up to €100m, setting several new transfer records in the process.

The 18-year-old midfielder has signed a five-year contract with the English club, with the agreement also including an option for a further season. Bouaddi leaves LOSC after spending five years with the northern French club.

Manchester City will pay €95m up front, with a further €5m available in bonuses. The overall package makes the transfer the most expensive sale ever made by a Ligue 1 club to a team in a foreign league.

That figure surpasses the €90m fee involved in Neymar’s move from the French championship to Al Hilal. Bouaddi’s transfer therefore represents a new benchmark for Ligue 1 clubs selling players abroad, despite the midfielder having only recently turned 18.

The deal also places Bouaddi at the top of the list of the most expensive African players sold by a French club. He moves ahead of Nicolas Pepe, whose transfer to Arsenal was valued at €80m.

On the international stage, the Morocco international becomes the most expensive player in his country’s history. His fee exceeds the estimated €68m paid for Achraf Hakimi’s move to PSG.

Bouaddi’s arrival also ranks among Manchester City’s biggest-ever signings. The new midfielder is third on the club’s list of most expensive recruits, behind Elliot Anderson, whose transfer cost €136m, and Jack Grealish, who joined for €117.5m.

Before leaving France, Bouaddi was estimated to have a market value of €80m. During his time in the country, he earned an annual salary of €1,090,000, equivalent to 708,500,000 FCFA.

The transfer brings to an end Bouaddi’s five-year spell with LOSC and begins his next phase with Manchester City. His arrival comes as the Citizens prepare for their second match of the English top flight season, against Crystal Palace.

The available match prices listed by betting company 1xBet put Manchester City at 1.60 to win. A draw is priced at 4.00, while Crystal Palace are listed at 5.00.

Bouaddi’s move is consequently significant on several levels: it is the largest sale from Ligue 1 to an overseas league, the biggest transfer fee paid for an African player sold by a French club, and the highest amount ever associated with a Moroccan footballer. It also places him among Manchester City’s three most expensive signings, despite his age and limited senior experience compared with the other players on that list.