Manchester City have agreed a deal in principle to sign 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for 100 million euros (£85.6m). The agreement follows advanced talks between the two clubs over a transfer for the Morocco international to join Enzo Maresca's side.
Lille have accepted an initial fee of £81.4m plus £4.2m in add-ons. City have made strengthening their central midfield a priority after selling Rodri to Barcelona for £65m and Tijjani Reinders to Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah for £52m. The club have already signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m, and remain interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez.
Bouaddi, who made his Lille debut at 16 in October 2023, has made 88 appearances for the club. He featured in five of Morocco's six matches during their run to the quarter-finals at this summer's World Cup and helped Lille beat Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2024.
