Manchester City and Lille have entered the final stages of negotiations to finalize a blockbuster transfer for Moroccan international midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the clubs have scheduled a critical new round of talks to complete the final administrative steps of the deal.
The €100M Midfield Succession Plan
The Premier League champions aggressively accelerated their pursuit of the 18-year-old prodigy following a major structural shift in their midfield roster:
- The Rodri Catalyst: Following the official departure of Rodri to FC Barcelona, City director Hugo Viana immediately prioritized Bouaddi as the long-term anchor for the engine room.
- Record Valuation: Negotiators are working around a massive €100 million (£85.6m) package. If finalized, this would represent a historic record-breaking sale for a player leaving Ligue 1.
- Terms Agreed: Personal terms have already been fully locked in on a long-term contract running until June 2031.
Waiting For The Flight Clearance
The player’s side of the operation is completely finalized and standing by to execute the move:
- Medical on Standby: Bouaddi is currently only waiting for the green light from club executives to travel to Manchester.
- Immediate Integration: The central midfielder has requested to join the English champions immediately rather than delaying his move to a future window.
- Maresca’s Project: Head coach Enzo Maresca is eager to integrate the World Cup standout into his tactical system as quickly as possible following a difficult opening stretch to the season.
The technical staff views the Lille sensation—who starred for Morocco during their historic 2026 World Cup quarterfinal run—as a generational talent capable of dictating European football for the next decade.
