Ayyoub Bouaddi, the maths whizz turned £86m teenage star heading to Man City
Now, Bouaddi is on his way to the Premier League, with Manchester City agreeing a deal worth 100m euros (£86m) in principle to sign him from Lille.
Olivier Giroud, a World Cup winner and Lille striker, has high praise for Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, comparing him to Kylian Mbappe at a young age. Lille's former coach Sofiane Khair echoes this sentiment, stating that Bouaddi's rise to prominence was no surprise to those in Creil where he grew up. Now, Manchester City is on the verge of signing Bouaddi for a reported £86 million.
While Morocco and France both expressed interest in the teenager, Bouaddi chose to represent his country of heritage. After Morocco's World Cup run, Bouaddi took to Instagram to declare his commitment to play for Morocco. His performances in the tournament impressed critics, with former Morocco international Hassan Kachloul describing his presence on the pitch as "a kind of positive arrogance".
Bouaddi's career has been one of continuous growth, breaking records and setting new standards. Despite his talent, he remains grounded and humble, studying mathematics in his spare time. Former Creil coach Armand Doue notes that Bouaddi's analytical mindset and perfectionist attitude have been key to his success. Only time will tell if Giroud's prediction of Bouaddi becoming "one of the best midfielders ever in the game" proves true.
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