Manchester City are closing in on a deal to sign Lille’s 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi in a transfer that would set a new record fee for a Moroccan player.
City are prepared to offer around €90m (£76m) for the France-born Morocco international, according to TalkSport, and are confident of completing the move during the summer window.
Journalist Nicolo Schira reports that Bouaddi has already been convinced to join the Premier League champions, with a five-year contract agreed in principle running until June 2031.
Negotiations are now focused on finalising a fee between Manchester City and Lille, with the Ligue 1 club holding a strong position as Bouaddi remains under contract until the summer of 2029.
Record fee for Moroccan player
If the transfer is completed at the level being discussed, Bouaddi would become the most expensive Moroccan footballer in history.
The proposed €90m fee would comfortably surpass the previous national record set by Achraf Hakimi’s €68m move from Inter Milan to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
Bouaddi, who was born in Senlis, is currently valued at €50m by Transfermarkt but has seen his reputation soar over the past year.
At Lille, he has established himself as one of Europe’s most highly rated young midfielders, impressing in Ligue 1 before further enhancing his profile with standout performances for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup.
Central to City’s recruitment plans
Manchester City view Bouaddi as a key component of their medium- and long-term planning in midfield, having been dazzled by his development at Lille and his displays on the international stage.
The Premier League club’s hierarchy have made his signing a priority and moved quickly to secure his agreement on personal terms ahead of formalising the deal with Lille.
Bouaddi currently earns €1,090,000 per year (708,500,000 FCFA) in France, a figure that is expected to rise significantly should he complete a move to the Etihad Stadium.
Lille, known for developing and selling on major talents, face the prospect of losing another cornerstone of their project but stand to bank one of the largest transfer fees in their history if they accept City’s bid.
While no final agreement has yet been announced, all parties are understood to be working towards sealing the transfer in the coming weeks, with Manchester City determined to wrap up the move swiftly once the window opens.
