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- Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
- Personal terms are understood to already be in place, but Lille are pushing to keep the 18-year-old on loan for a further season.
- Bouaddi would arrive as City’s second major central midfield addition of the summer, following the £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Officials at Manchester City are edging closer towards the completion of a blockbuster summer transfer for one of the ultimate stars of the recent FIFA World Cup.
A product of Lille’s academy with 96 appearances for the club already to his name, the 18-year-old was one of the standout performers of Morocco’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals – a campaign that ended only after a narrow defeat to France.
That form has triggered interest from a host of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, with Manchester City understood to have moved ahead of the Gunners – who seemingly have their attentions fixed on Bruno Guimaraes.
Talks between the two clubs have been building for weeks, with senior Manchester City officials and Lille president Olivier Létang holding direct discussions beginning at the end of June.
The clubs seemingly remain apart on an exact transfer fee – with City pushing for a deal that sits below Lille’s target valuation of €100 million – but the substance of the deal is seemingly all but settled.
Ayyoub Bouaddi would represent City’s second major central midfield addition of the window, following the £116 million arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, as Enzo Maresca and Hugo Viana continue to prioritise a rebuild through the middle of the park.
Man City accelerating in Ayyoub Bouaddi pursuit
Now, according to the information of Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City are accelerating in their pursuit of completing an agreement to sign Lille and Morocco international midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with talks to progress on Thursday.
It is claimed that an agreement between Manchester City and the Ligue 1 side has edged closer, as well as on the side of personal terms with the teenager’s representatives this week.
Additional reporting in France from Footmercato’s Santi Aouna and Hanif Berkane states that an agreement between Manchester City and Lille for Bouaddi is ‘imminent’, while the player himself has given his personal agreement to a move to the Etihad Stadium.
From the side of those at the French club, it is stated that they retain a wish to keep the 18-year-old for an additional season on loan, while Manchester City want to integrate Bouaddi into their squad this summer.
A similar line of reporting has also been provided by journalist Matteo Moretto, who reports that City have reached a verbal agreement with Ayyoub Bouaddi and remain in advanced negotiations with his club.
The two parties are said to be studying what is the best solution for the Moroccan international midfielder, as Lille want to retain him on loan for the 2026/27 season while City would like to bring him to the Premier League now.
How would Bouaddi fit into the City squad now?
There is plenty of reason to expect Manchester City to push hard to have Ayyoub Bouaddi available from the start of the season, particularly with Enzo Maresca keen to build midfield cohesion early in his tenure.
The timing also carries an extra layer of significance given Rodri’s own unresolved future at the club, with Real Madrid interest in the FIFA World Cup-winning midfielder and captain yet to fully subside.
Whether Bouaddi arrives with a season to learn directly under one of the world’s best holding midfielders, or as the long-term successor to a role Rodri may soon vacate, is likely to become one of the more interesting subplots of City’s summer rebuild.
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Source: Cityxtra.co.uk
