Ayyoub Bouaddi: Man City sign Lille midfielder in £85.6m transfer

Manchester City have signed Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for £85.6m on a five-year deal.

Bouaddi, 18, has become the Premier League club’s fifth signing of the summer transfer window days after fellow midfielder Rodri’s move to Barcelona following seven years with City.

Speaking for the first time at his new club, the World Cup star said: “I wouldn’t be here without my family, so I am really happy to have them next to me.

“This is also why I am playing football, to make my family proud.

“I think the most important thing is to have balance and my family and parents are not always [about] football.

“It’s all the values that they teach me and it’s important to keep that.

“We need to be the same person with everybody, respect everyone, be myself, be yourself and just try to enjoy life.”

Ayyoub Bouaddi: Why City made transfer move

Bouaddi has long been one of the best young players in France and announced himself on the European stage by playing throughout their home win over Real Madrid in October 2024 on his Champions League debut.

With Bernardo Silva and Rodri – two of the key midfielders in City’s period of dominating the Premier League under former manager Pep Guardiola – now gone, new City head coach Enzo Maresca is rebuilding his midfield.

The Italian is overseeing a squad in transition as he attempts to prove himself a worthy successor to Guardiola, who became the club’s most successful manager of all time during the Spaniard’s 10 years in charge until his exit in May.

A ball winner at the base of midfield, Bouaddi has the potential to replace some of the abilities that made Rodri a four-time Premier League champion and Champions League winner with the club, as well as the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner and player of the tournament at the World Cup 2026.

Maresca may be planning to pair Bouaddi with 23-year-old Elliot Anderson, who arrived from Nottingham Forest for £116m in July.

The former Chelsea manager is likely to have been among numerous admirers of Bouaddi’s performances at the World Cup, starting five of Morocco’s six matches and producing an exceptional display in their opening 1-1 draw with Brazil.

Ayyoub Bouaddi style of play

Lille veteran and former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud calls Bouaddi “somewhat reminiscent” of legendary midfielder N’Golo Kante.

“He’s calm, confident and remains himself,” Giroud told BBC Sport. “I was talking to some friends and they sent me some photos of Patrick Vieira and Sergio Busquets. They said he’s a mix of both.

“Technically he’s not quite at the level of Sergio Busquets yet, but he’s got the skills. He might lack the power of Patrick.

“He’ll get stronger and bigger with time but he’s already a very versatile player. He can do everything.

“The only thing he needs to work on – and he knows this because we’ve teased him a lot this year – is finishing. He needs to be more aggressive in front of goal.”

Ayyoub Bouaddi 🌟

👶 Just 18 years old… #UCL pic.twitter.com/JYYlcmKw7X

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 17, 2026

Ayyoub Bouaddi: Arsenal miss out on transfer

Reigning Premier League champions Arsenal were one of the clubs linked with Bouaddi, although their 3-0 win over City in the Community Shield on August 16 – and Anderson and Mateo Kovacic’s unconvincing performances as part of a poor City display – suggested they were less in need of players in his position.

Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Bayern Munich were also interested in Bouaddi, Metro reported on June 30.

Citing RMC Sport, the outlet said Lille wanted to sell for up to £89m but were willing to accept a lower fee if he was loaned back to them this season.

Ayyoub Bouaddi stats: Lille, Morocco

Lille’s trust in Bouaddi has allowed him to break several age records, including the feat of becoming the youngest player ever in a European club competition game by featuring in the Conference League three days after his 16th birthday in October 2023.

Seventeen days later, Bouaddi made his first appearance in Ligue 1 to become the youngest appearance-maker in the French top flight for 42 years.

Bouaddi signed a contract extension until 2029 in December 2025. The following month, he broke former Premier League Player of the Season Eden Hazard’s record as the youngest player to make 50 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille.

Morocco considered Bouaddi’s switch of allegiance in May 2026 a major coup following his appearances at youth level for France, with their pursuit rewarded by his World Cup performances.

Here are some of Bouaddi’s key stats in Ligue 1 2025/26.

When will Ayyoub Bouaddi play for Manchester City?

Here’s how City’s first four fixtures of the 2026/27 season look.