PSG and Arsenal compete for Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi

Paris Saint-Germain faces stiff competition from Arsenal FC in the bidding for Lille’s young talent Ayyoub Bouaddi.

PSG, a big admirer of the midfielder’s profile, won’t have an easy task securing the 18-year-old once he leaves Lille.

According to Sacha Tavolieri’s reports cited by Paris Fans, Arsenal has marked Bouaddi’s name and refuses to make the transfer simple for the Parisian team. The Lille midfielder has already attracted interest from major clubs despite his youth.

Lille demands a staggering 70 million euros to release their prized asset. The player reportedly has a personal preference for Arsenal, known as the Gunners. This season, Bouaddi has played 42 matches and contributed one assist.

Bouaddi’s remarkable journey began on October 5, 2023, when he appeared as a substitute for Lille in a UEFA Europa Conference League match against KI Klaksvík. The match ended 0–0. At just 16 years and 3 days old, he became Lille’s youngest-ever player in European club competition, surpassing the previous record held since 1978.

His Ligue 1 debut followed October 22, 2023, substituting during Lille’s 1–0 home victory over Brest. Aged 16 years and 20 days, Bouaddi became Lille’s youngest player in the French top flight since 1981, marking another milestone in his rapid ascent to the first team.