Manchester City step up pursuit of Lille teenage midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi

Manchester City are nearing an agreement with Lille for the transfer of midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi, with negotiations between the two clubs understood to have reached an advanced stage.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said talks over a move for the Morocco international had entered their final phase, although Manchester City still need to settle the player’s personal terms before the deal can be completed.

Romano wrote on Facebook: “The negotiations regarding Ayoub Bouaddi’s transfer to Manchester City have reached their final stages, and the agreement between the two clubs is now very close.”

He added: “Manchester City are close to reaching an agreement with Lille for Bouaddi, while negotiations with the player over personal terms are ongoing.”

The expected move would see Bouaddi leave Lille during the current summer transfer window, with Manchester City having moved ahead of their rivals in the race for one of European football’s most highly rated young midfielders.

Bouaddi has established himself as a prominent emerging talent despite being only 18. His performances have attracted interest from a number of major clubs across Europe, and Manchester City regard him as an important long-term project for the club.

The Premier League side’s interest is also linked to uncertainty surrounding Rodri’s future. The Spain international is widely expected to leave Manchester City and return to La Liga, increasing the importance of succession planning in midfield.

Manchester City have therefore identified Bouaddi as a player who could form part of their plans for the future. The club’s progress in negotiations suggests it has made significant headway in attempting to secure his signature, although discussions over personal conditions remain unresolved.

Lille have been aware for some time that retaining their young midfielder would be difficult because of the level of attention he has received from leading European clubs. The scale of interest made a summer departure increasingly possible, with Manchester City now appearing to have turned their initial pursuit into advanced talks.

No final agreement has yet been announced, and the transfer still depends on the completion of negotiations between Manchester City and Lille, as well as the resolution of Bouaddi’s personal terms. However, the latest update indicates that the proposed move is considerably closer than it was at the start of the discussions.

For Lille, the departure would represent the loss of a player viewed as one of the club’s most promising young assets. For Manchester City, Bouaddi would be considered an investment in the future, particularly with Rodri’s possible exit creating uncertainty over the club’s midfield options.

The talks remain ongoing, but Manchester City are now close to securing a deal that would take Bouaddi from Lille to the English club this summer.