Man City on verge of signing Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as clubs haggle over loan clause

Manchester City are closing in on a deal to sign Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with only the question of where he will play next season delaying an agreement between the clubs.

City and Lille have made “very big” progress in negotiations over the 18-year-old, according to French outlet Foot Mercato, and are now described as being very close to settling on a final transfer fee after weeks of talks.

Most elements of the move are understood to be in place, with the remaining sticking point focused on whether Bouaddi spends one more campaign on loan at Lille or joins City’s squad immediately for the coming season.

City see Bouaddi as potential Rodri successor

Bouaddi has emerged as one of the most in-demand players in the transfer market after a standout spell with Lille and an impressive campaign with Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, which has significantly increased his valuation and attracted interest from several major European clubs.

Lille president Olivier Letang has repeatedly stated that the fee for his midfielder should exceed €100m, citing the growing number of elite sides monitoring the player.

Reports claim Manchester City have moved ahead of their rivals by making Bouaddi a priority target to strengthen their midfield. The English champions’ hierarchy are said to view him as possessing the technical quality and physical profile to become an ideal long-term replacement for Spain international Rodri, whose future has been strongly linked with a possible move to Real Madrid.

City officials have been particularly impressed by Bouaddi’s ability to play under pressure, his tactical intelligence, his defensive contribution and the level he has already reached at a young age. New manager Enzo Maresca is reported to have given his approval for the deal to be completed and has urged the club to finalise it as quickly as possible.

Player approval helps push talks forward

Bouaddi has indicated that he is willing to join Manchester City, a stance that has helped accelerate negotiations between the Premier League champions and Lille.

Foot Mercato reports that, with the player’s agreement in place and broad consensus reached on the structure of the fee, the focus of discussions has narrowed to his immediate future after signing.

Lille are pushing to keep Bouaddi at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy for an additional season on loan, believing that regular playing time in Ligue 1 would allow him to continue his development and gain further experience before making the step to the Premier League.

Manchester City, by contrast, would prefer to bring him straight to the Etihad Stadium this summer and register him in their first-team squad ahead of the new campaign.

Optimism over breakthrough in coming days

Despite the unresolved issue over a possible loan-back arrangement, both clubs are described as optimistic about reaching a compromise in the coming days that would clear the way for an official announcement.

Should an agreement be finalised, Bouaddi’s move is expected to be one of the headline transfers of the summer window, reflecting his rapid rise for club and country and the scale of City’s investment in a player they regard as a key part of their future midfield.