Manchester City are close to reaching an agreement with Lille for the transfer of midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi, with negotiations between the two clubs described as being in their final stages.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said on Facebook that discussions over a potential move for the 18-year-old had made significant progress, although an agreement on personal terms with the player has not yet been completed.
“The negotiations regarding Ayoub Bouaddi’s transfer to Manchester City have reached their final stages, and an agreement between the two clubs is now very close,” Romano wrote.
He added: “Manchester City are close to reaching an agreement with Lille regarding Bouaddi, while negotiations with the player over personal terms are continuing.”
The latest development places Manchester City in a strong position to secure one of European football’s most highly regarded young midfielders. Bouaddi has attracted growing attention despite being only 18, establishing himself as one of the continent’s leading emerging talents.
Several major European clubs have been monitoring the Lille player, but Manchester City have moved ahead of their rivals by turning their interest into advanced negotiations. Lille had been aware for some time that keeping hold of the young midfielder would be difficult given the level of attention surrounding him.
The proposed move is understood to form part of Manchester City’s planning for the future. Within the English club, Bouaddi is regarded as an important long-term project, particularly with Spain midfielder Rodri increasingly expected to leave the club.
Rodri has been strongly linked with a return to the Spanish league, raising the possibility of a significant change in Manchester City’s midfield options. Bouaddi’s potential arrival would therefore give the club another young player who could develop into an important part of the team in the years ahead.
However, the transfer is not complete. While negotiations between Manchester City and Lille are nearing an agreement, discussions with Bouaddi over the personal conditions of the deal remain ongoing.
The progress made by Manchester City represents a major step towards completing the move during the current summer transfer window. Lille’s difficulty in retaining Bouaddi reflects the wider interest generated by his performances and potential, while City’s position at the front of the negotiations underlines their determination to secure his signature.
For now, the club-to-club talks are close to conclusion, with the remaining discussions focused on finalising the player’s personal terms. If those negotiations are settled, Bouaddi would move from Lille to Manchester City as one of the most prominent young talents targeted by the English club for its future.