Manchester City agree €100m deal with Lille for Ayyoub Bouaddi
Manchester City have reached a full agreement with Lille to sign midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the move being cast at the club as the long-term succession plan for Rodri.
According to The Athletic, the fee is structured as an initial €95 million with a further €5 million in add-ons. The 18-year-old has agreed personal terms on a contract running to the summer of 2031, with City holding the option to extend by a further year.
The deal follows City's sale of Rodri to Barcelona for €60m this summer, a departure that left a gap in Enzo Maresca's midfield. Maresca had been explicit about the priority to find a "new Rodri" to fill that role, and City moved for Bouaddi as their solution.
Bouaddi was left out of Lille's matchday squad against Angers to allow the transfer to be finalised. The fee makes him Lille's record sale, surpassing the €80m Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pepe in 2019. He became the club's youngest-ever player at 16 years and three days when he debuted in a Conference League tie in September 2023, having progressed through Lille's academy.
His profile rose sharply at the 2026 World Cup, where he started five of Morocco's six matches as the Atlas Lions reached the quarterfinals, including a standout display in a 1-1 draw with Brazil. Bouaddi represented France at youth level up to Under-21 before switching his international allegiance to Morocco in May.
He made 42 appearances in all competitions last season as Lille finished third in Ligue 1 and qualified for the Champions League.
