Man City complete £85.6m signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille
Manchester City have signed Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a £85.6m deal on 26 August 2026.
The 18-year-old has agreed a five-year contract, subject to international clearance, with City paying £81.4m up front plus £4.2m in add-ons. The move follows City offloading central midfielders Rodri to Barcelona for £65m and Tijjani Reinders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m and comes after Bouaddi impressed at this summer's World Cup, starting five of Morocco's six matches as they reached the quarter-finals; he had previously established himself as a regular in Lille's Ligue 1 side.
"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," said Bouaddi. "I have spent most of my life working hard to become the best player I can be and reach the top of the game. "I've watched City for many years, and I love their style of play. City always try and play quality football. And they have shown they are winners - this club feels like it's built to win."
Bouaddi made 96 appearances for Lille after making his debut in 2023 and became the youngest footballer to ever play for the French side at the age of 16 on his senior debut against Faroese club KI in the Europa League. He also played a starring role in Lille's Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024.
City's recruitment this summer already included the signing of England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m, and Bouaddi is expected to form part of a reworked midfield. The club's technical description of Bouaddi in the coverage is of a deep-lying conductor who would complement Anderson, who is described as comfortable as a box-to-box midfielder as well as in the number six role he occupies for England.
Manchester City are also set to make an offer for Chelsea's Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who is valued at £120m, while other summer movement involving City players has included Brazilian winger Savinho, now known as Savio, joining Tottenham in a £75m deal and Spurs agreeing a loan for City's Egypt forward Omar Marmoush. Spain midfielder Nico Gonzalez is set to leave City to join Newcastle in a £52m deal, with reports stating Newcastle have agreed a £52m deal for Gonzalez.
City's midfield overhaul continues after the departures of Rodri, Reijnders and Bernardo Silva this summer, and with the season already under way the club faces a deadline for further business: whether they can match Chelsea's asking price for Fernandez and complete a deal before Tuesday's deadline remains to be seen, while Anderson, Bouaddi and possibly Fernandez will all need to hit the ground running.
