Manchester City are in advanced talks with Lille to secure the transfer of 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Premier League club aims to finalize the deal this week following the agreement to sell Rodri to Barcelona. Lille currently values the young talent at 100 million euros (£85.6m).
Bouaddi has established himself as a key figure, having played 88 times for Lille since making his professional debut in October 2023, just three days after his 16th birthday. His consistent performances helped the French side finish third in Ligue 1 last season. He further announced himself on the global stage during a standout 2024, notably playing a starring role in Lille’s Champions League victory over Real Madrid.
The midfielder’s reputation grew significantly during this summer’s World Cup, where he started five of Morocco’s six matches during their run to the quarter-finals. Known as a deep-lying conductor, Bouaddi is expected to complement Manchester City’s summer signing Elliot Anderson, who operates effectively in both box-to-box and number six roles.
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