Manchester City complete €100m Ayyoub Bouaddi signing from Lille
Manchester City have completed the signing of 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a deal that could reach £85.6m, making him the Premier League’s most expensive teenage signing.
Manchester City have completed the signing of highly rated Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a landmark deal worth an initial £81.3 million, with a further £4.3m available in add-ons.
The 18-year-old has signed a five-year contract and becomes the most expensive teenage player in Premier League history, surpassing the previous record associated with Leny Yoro’s move to Manchester United.
Bouaddi arrives in Manchester after a breakthrough 2025/26 campaign at Lille and an impressive World Cup with Morocco, where he started five of the nation’s six matches as they reached the quarter-finals.
His performances at international level helped establish him as one of Europe’s most exciting young midfield prospects, but his appeal goes beyond his age and potential.
Bouaddi offers a combination of physical presence, technical security and tactical intelligence that could make him particularly valuable during Manchester City’s midfield rebuild.
He is capable of carrying the ball away from pressure, using his 6ft 1in frame to protect possession while maintaining close control, and his defensive instincts allow him to anticipate loose balls and step into challenges.
His arrival also comes at a significant moment for City, following the departure of Rodri to Barcelona and further midfield changes involving Tijjani Reijnders and Bernardo Silva.
Bouaddi is therefore joining a squad undergoing substantial structural change rather than one simply adding another promising youngster. The immediate challenge for Enzo Maresca will be managing expectations around a player who is still only 18, particularly given the size of the transfer fee.
However, City appear to view the Moroccan as both a long-term cornerstone and a player capable of contributing sooner rather than later.
Alongside Elliot Anderson, another major midfield addition this summer, Bouaddi gives City greater youth, mobility and technical variety in an area that required significant reconstruction.
