Key Points

• Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, joins Manchester City from Lille for £85.6m (£81.4m upfront plus £4.2m add-ons) on a five-year contract.
• The Morocco international made 96 appearances for Lille and started five of Morocco's six World Cup matches in their quarter-final run.
• Bouaddi's fee surpasses the £58.9m Manchester United paid for Leny Yoro from Lille, making him Premier League's most expensive teenager.

Manager Enzo Maresca's side moved to secure Bouaddi after selling central midfielders Rodri to Barcelona for £65m and Tijjani Reinders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m. Bouaddi functions as a deep-lying midfielder and joins fellow recent acquisition Elliot Anderson, signed from Nottingham Forest for £116m, in City's revamped midfield. Anderson operates as a box-to-box midfielder and can play the number six role, the position he holds for England.

City are also preparing an offer for Chelsea's Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who is valued at £120m. Bouaddi's arrival completes a significant midfield overhaul for the club, which has also moved to loan Egypt forward Omar Marmoush to Tottenham and is set to sell Spain midfielder Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle for £52m.

Read Next

Alcaraz and Williams Fall in US Open Mixed Doubles Quarterfinals

11 hours ago

Bruno Fernandes Wins PFA Player of Year; Breaks Assist Record with 21

19 hours ago

The signing marks a continued investment in youth development at City, with the 18-year-old expected to develop further under Maresca's coaching. Bouaddi's experience playing Champions League football at Lille, including against Real Madrid in 2024, provides a foundation for his Premier League career.

Sources: BBC Sport and other international news outlets.

Share this article

Disclaimer: This article was produced with AI assistance based on publicly available news sources. While we strive for accuracy, NewsOracle makes no warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of the information. Errors and omissions may occur. Readers should independently verify all information before acting on it. NewsOracle does not intend to defame any individual or organisation and accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this content. Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, medical, or professional advice. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.

More from NewsOracle

politics

Ofgem Raises Energy Bills 4% from October, Hitting Three-Year High

finance

Roman Storm Tornado Cash Retrial Pushed to April 2027

technology

HP Signs WiFi Patent Deal With Blacklisted Huawei