Manchester City have reached a full verbal agreement with Ayyoub Bouaddi and are now in advanced talks with Lille over a potential transfer for the 18-year-old midfielder.
The English club are understood to have moved into pole position after making significant progress in negotiations with Bouaddi and his representatives. Discussions between Manchester City and Lille’s directors are continuing, with the remaining work focused on agreeing the financial and contractual terms of the transfer.
According to German journalist Florian Plettenberg, the verbal agreement between Manchester City and the Morocco international is now in place. However, the move has not yet been completed, as the two clubs still need to settle the details of the deal before the transfer can be finalised.
Bouaddi emerged as one of European football’s leading young prospects after producing a series of particularly impressive performances last season. His displays attracted interest from several of the continent’s biggest clubs, but Manchester City have made the most progress by negotiating directly with the player’s representatives.
The midfielder remains under contract with Lille until 2029. He is currently valued at 50m euros, while his annual salary at the French club is reported to be 1,090,000 euros, equivalent to 708,500,000 FCFA.
Manchester City’s progress comes as Lille prepare for their pre-season friendly against Hamburg. The match is scheduled to take place soon, with 1xBet listing Lille as the favourites at odds of 1.77. A draw is priced at 3.45, while a Hamburg victory is listed at 2.94.
Bouaddi, who was born in Senlis, is regarded as a major part of Lille’s emerging talent. His long-term contract gives the club a strong negotiating position, but Manchester City’s agreement with the player represents an important step towards a possible move.
The Premier League club must now reach an agreement with Lille before Bouaddi can officially become a Manchester City player. Until those negotiations are concluded, the verbal understanding with the midfielder remains only an initial agreement rather than a completed transfer.
