Manchester City step up pursuit of Morocco’s Bouaddi with reported €90m bid

Manchester City are reportedly preparing a €90 million bid for Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as the Premier League champions step up their efforts to sign one of Europe’s brightest young talents.

The 18-year-old has attracted widespread attention following an outstanding campaign with French side Lille and a series of impressive performances for Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, placing him on the radar of several of Europe’s biggest clubs.

However, City are now believed to be leading the race for the teenager’s signature.

Personal terms reportedly agreed

According to Italian transfer expert Nicolò Schira, Manchester City have already reached a preliminary agreement with Bouaddi over a five-year contract that would keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2031.

Attention has now shifted to negotiations between City and Lille, with the two clubs expected to discuss a transfer fee in the coming weeks.

British broadcaster talkSPORT reports that the English champions are prepared to offer around €90 million in an attempt to convince Lille to sell the highly-rated midfielder before the close of the summer transfer window.

Club officials are said to be confident an agreement can be reached.

Historic transfer for Moroccan football

Should the deal go through at the reported valuation, Bouaddi would become the most expensive Moroccan footballer in history.

The transfer would surpass the €68 million fee Paris Saint-Germain paid Inter Milan for Achraf Hakimi in 2021, setting a new benchmark for Moroccan players in the global transfer market.

For Bouaddi, the move would represent another remarkable step in a rapid rise that has seen him establish himself as one of African football’s most exciting young prospects and one of the continent’s standout performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.