Ayyoub Bouaddi is on the verge of leaving Lille for one of the biggest moves of his young career, with Manchester City reportedly reaching an agreement with the French club over a transfer that could rise to €100 million including bonuses.
The deal, reported by RMC Sport and also confirmed by L’Équipe, would make the 18-year-old Moroccan international the most expensive departure in Lille’s history. The agreement follows several days of difficult negotiations between the two clubs before the financial terms were finally settled.
Bouaddi is expected to sign a five-year contract with Manchester City, with an option for an additional season. The transfer would represent a major financial milestone for Lille, surpassing the previous club record established by Nicolas Pépé, whose move to Arsenal in 2019 was worth €80 million.
The Moroccan midfielder’s departure comes at a particularly significant moment in his development. Bouaddi has rapidly established himself at Lille despite his young age and has already earned eight caps for Morocco. His progress accelerated further after he represented the national team at his first World Cup this summer.
Manchester City are now preparing to integrate a player viewed as one of the most promising midfield talents of his generation. Bouaddi’s profile could be particularly important as the English champions look to reshape their midfield following Rodri’s departure to Barcelona.
The comparison with the Spanish Ballon d’Or winner underlines the scale of the challenge awaiting Bouaddi in England. Rather than simply joining a new club, the Moroccan prospect is being brought into a squad where expectations are exceptionally high and where competition for midfield positions is intense.
Bouaddi’s final days at Lille are already taking on a symbolic character. He traveled with the squad to Angers on Sunday but was left out of the team, effectively bringing his time with the northern French club to an end.
For Lille, the transfer represents a record-breaking financial operation. For Manchester City, it is a major investment in a young Moroccan international whose career is entering an entirely new phase.
At just 18, Bouaddi is now preparing to exchange Ligue 1 for the Premier League and Lille’s colors for the sky blue of Manchester City, with a €100 million price tag placing unprecedented expectations on his next chapter.
