Manchester City in Talks to Sign Ayyoub Bouaddi After Rodri Sale

Manchester City are closing in on one of Europe’s most coveted young midfielders, with the club in advanced negotiations with Lille for Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi.

The Premier League champions are pushing to wrap up the deal this week, having agreed to sell Rodri to Barcelona. City want Bouaddi in the door quickly, and Lille know they hold a prized asset.

The French club value the 18-year-old at 100 million euros (£85.6m). That is elite, statement-signing territory, but Bouaddi’s rise has matched the price tag.

The midfielder exploded onto the global stage at this summer’s World Cup, starting five of Morocco’s six games as they powered their way to the quarter-finals. His composure under pressure and ability to dictate tempo in high-stakes matches underlined what scouts had already seen in Europe.

His breakthrough moment came earlier, though. Bouaddi’s performance in Lille’s Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024 turned heads across the continent and effectively announced him as one of the next great midfield prospects.

City see him as a deep-lying conductor, a player who can sit at the base of midfield, take the ball in tight areas and control the rhythm of games. The club believe he would dovetail with summer signing Elliot Anderson, who offers a more box-to-box profile but can also operate as a number six, the role he has taken on for England.

Bouaddi’s experience at his age is striking. Since making his debut for Lille in October 2023, just three days after his 16th birthday, he has already amassed 88 appearances for the club. Last season he played a central role as Lille finished third in Ligue 1, underlining his importance in both domestic and European competition.

City now move to turn admiration into acquisition. If they meet Lille’s valuation and complete the transfer, they will be betting big on a teenager to help redefine their midfield after Rodri’s departure.