Manchester City close in on Ayyoub Bouaddi as talks with Lille advance

Manchester City are closing in on a deal to sign Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the Premier League club hoping to complete negotiations for the highly rated 18-year-old this week.

City have already reached an agreement with Bouaddi over personal terms on a five-year contract and are now working with Lille to settle the final structure of the transfer.

Lille value the Morocco international at around €100 million, approximately £87.5 million, and discussions between the clubs are focused on the payment structure and potential bonuses. A final agreement has not yet been reached and neither club has announced the transfer.

Negotiations have been developing throughout the summer. Lille head coach Davide Ancelotti previously confirmed that Manchester City were in talks over Bouaddi, while City sporting director Hugo Viana has been in contact with Lille president Olivier Letang as the English club attempt to secure one of Europe’s most highly rated young midfielders.

Bouaddi’s reputation increased significantly during the 2026 World Cup, where he played an important role in Morocco’s run to the quarter-finals. He made five appearances during the tournament after committing his senior international future to Morocco earlier in the year, having previously represented France at youth level.

The midfielder has also established himself as a first-team player at Lille despite his age. His performances in Ligue 1 and European competition have attracted interest from several major clubs, but Manchester City have moved into a strong position in the race for his signature.

City’s pursuit comes during a significant reshaping of their midfield. The club have already added Elliot Anderson this summer and are continuing to strengthen the squad as Rodri moves closer to completing his transfer to Barcelona.

Bouaddi is not yet a Manchester City player, however. Personal terms are in place and negotiations with Lille are advanced, but the clubs still need to reach a complete agreement on the financial details before the transfer can proceed to its final stages.