Manchester City are pursuing an acquisition of Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in what would represent a significant summer investment. The Premier League club is working to complete the transaction this week as part of a broader squad restructuring that includes the outgoing transfer of midfielder Rodri.
Bouaddi, an 18-year-old midfielder, is valued by Lille at 100 million euros, equivalent to £85.6m. The young player has demonstrated his capabilities on the international stage, appearing in five of Morocco’s six matches at the World Cup during their quarter-final run. His previous breakthrough moment came in 2024 when he featured in Lille’s Champions League victory against Real Madrid. Since joining Lille in October 2023 as a 16-year-old, Bouaddi has accumulated 88 appearances for the French club and contributed to their third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
Operating as a deep-lying midfielder, Bouaddi would provide tactical balance to Manchester City’s midfield alongside recent signing Elliot Anderson, who operates as a box-to-box midfielder and can fulfill the number six position for England. The acquisition would replace some of the creative output departing with Rodri’s exit.
Rodri is transitioning to Barcelona in a £65m move on a four-year contract. The 30-year-old midfielder has been a cornerstone of Manchester City’s success across seven seasons, making 298 appearances since arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2019. He won the 2024 Ballon d’Or award and was named player of the tournament following Spain’s World Cup victory, though injury challenges have affected portions of his recent campaign.
Reports suggest Manchester City retains interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez regardless of the Bouaddi outcome, with manager Enzo Maresca reportedly maintaining enthusiasm for the Argentina midfielder.
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