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Manchester City have completed the signing of 18-year-old Moroccan international Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a deal worth £85.6m, with the midfielder putting pen to paper on a five-year contract that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium through the remainder of the decade, subject to standard international clearance procedures being finalised.
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The teenager arrives on the back of an impressive breakout campaign in Ligue 1 combined with a standout showing for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, where he started five of his country’s six matches as the Atlas Lions reached the quarter-finals, a run that significantly boosted his profile among Europe’s biggest clubs.
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Before completing his move to Manchester, Bouaddi took to his X account to share a farewell video addressed to Lille supporters, a gesture that reflected just how much of an impact he made during his time at the club since progressing through their academy system and into the first team.
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The signing forms part of a significant midfield rebuild at City this summer, following the departures of Rodri to Barcelona and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah, with the club having already added Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest and continuing to be linked with a potential deal for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
August 26, (THEWILL) — Manchester City have wrapped up one of the more eye-catching pieces of business in their summer midfield overhaul, confirming the signing of Morocco international, Ayyoub Bouaddi, from Lille in a deal worth £85.6m.
The 18-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the Premier League champions, with City paying £81.4m upfront and a further £4.2m available through add-ons. The move remains subject to standard international clearance before it becomes fully official.
Bouaddi didn’t hide his excitement after getting the deal over the line. “This is a very special day for me and my family. Manchester City are, for me, the best club in the world. It’s a dream to be here and be able to call myself a City player”, he said.
The teenager also pointed to City’s playing style as one of the key factors behind his decision to move to England. “I’ve watched City for many years, and I love their style of play. City always try to play quality football. And they have shown they are winners; this club feels like it’s built to win.”
Merci pour tout, Lille. ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/1D2QebYfER
— Ayyoub Bouaddi (@BouaddiAyyoub) August 26, 2026
Before completing the switch, Bouaddi took a moment to say goodbye to the Lille supporters who watched him grow into one of the club’s most important players, sharing a farewell video on his X account addressed to the fanbase that had backed him throughout his rise. It was a fitting send-off for a player whose journey with the club began well before most fans could have predicted just how far he’d go.
Bouaddi made his senior debut for Lille back in 2023, and went on to make 96 appearances for the French club before his departure. His very first appearance came at just 16 years old, making him the youngest player ever to represent Lille’s senior side, when he featured against KI Klaksvik in the Europa Conference League. From that moment on, he showed no signs of being overwhelmed by senior football, despite his age.
One of the standout moments of his rise came in Lille’s Champions League win over Real Madrid back in 2024, a result in which the then-teenager left a lasting impression on one of the biggest stages in European football. He continued to build on that promise last season, establishing himself as a key part of Lille’s midfield as the club finished third in Ligue 1. That form eventually earned him a place in Morocco’s World Cup squad, where he started five matches as the Atlas Lions made it all the way to the quarter-finals.
Bouaddi’s arrival now becomes the latest piece in a significant midfield reconstruction project at the Etihad. City have already lost both Rodri, who left for Barcelona in a £65m deal, and Tijjani Reijnders, who departed for Al-Qadsiah in a £52m move. In response, City brought in England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m earlier in the window, and Bouaddi now joins him as another major addition to City’s rebuilt midfield unit.
Primarily deployed as a deep-lying midfielder, Bouaddi is known for his composure in possession and his ability to dictate tempo from deep attributes that could complement Anderson’s more box-to-box, dynamic style in the middle of the park. City are reportedly not finished there either, with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez said to be valued at around £120m and still very much on the club’s radar as a potential further addition.
The signing also fits into a wider pattern of turnover at City this summer. Brazilian winger Savinho, who now goes by Savio, completed a £75m move to Tottenham, while Spurs have also agreed a loan deal for City’s Egypt international, Omar Marmoush. Spain midfielder, Nico Gonzalez, also looks set to depart, with Newcastle reportedly closing in on a £52m deal for his signature.
For City, though, the Bouaddi deal represents something slightly different from the rest of their summer business: an investment in the club’s long-term future as much as an attempt to strengthen the current squad. At just 18, he already boasts 96 senior appearances and eight international caps, and he now begins the next stage of his development at a club that has shown no hesitation in backing him despite his age.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
