Ayyoub Bouaddi
Manchester City have opened advanced negotiations with Lille over a potential £85.6 million move for highly rated Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
City are keen to complete the deal this week as they prepare for the departure of Spain captain Rodri, who is set to join Barcelona in a £65 million transfer on a four-year contract.
Lille are understood to value the 18-year-old Bouaddi at around €100 million (£85.6m), reflecting his rapid rise since making his first-team debut in October 2023, just days after his 16th birthday.
Bouaddi has already made 88 appearances for Lille and played a key role in their third-place Ligue 1 finish last season. His reputation grew further after an impressive performance against Real Madrid in Lille’s Champions League victory in 2024.
The midfielder also featured prominently for Morocco at this summer’s World Cup, starting all five matches as the Atlas Lions reached the quarter-finals.
Primarily a deep-lying midfielder capable of controlling play from the base of midfield, Bouaddi could complement summer signing Elliot Anderson, who can operate both as a box-to-box midfielder and in the number-six position.
Meanwhile, Rodri is preparing to end his seven-year spell at Manchester City. The 30-year-old joined from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club-record £62.8 million and has gone on to make 298 appearances while winning multiple major trophies.
His City career was disrupted by a serious knee injury during the 2024-25 campaign and a hamstring problem last season, although he returned to top form at the World Cup, helping Spain win the tournament and earning the Player of the Tournament award.
City’s pursuit of Bouaddi could also have implications for their interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, although sources indicate manager Enzo Maresca remains strongly interested in the Argentina international.