Man City complete £86m Bouaddi signing from Lille

Manchester City has completed the signing of 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for a fee of £85.6 million. The midfielder, who has won eight caps for Morocco, is expected to join City on a five-year contract, with the upfront payment of £81.4 million and £4.2 million in potential add-ons.

City's move for Bouaddi comes after selling central midfielders Rodri to Barcelona for £65 million and Tijjani Reinders to Al-Qadsiah for £52 million. The young player made a significant impact at the 2022 World Cup, featuring in all six matches as Morocco reached the quarter-finals.

In an emotional statement, Bouaddi expressed his excitement about joining Manchester City, calling it a dream come true and praising the club for its style of play and winning mentality. The teenager, who has been with Lille since 2023, helped the French side secure a third-place finish in Ligue 1 last season and played a crucial role in their Champions League victory over Real Madrid.

Bouaddi's signing is expected to bolster City's midfield, where the club is already bolstered by the arrival of England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million. With Bouaddi's deep-lying playing style, he could complement Anderson's box-to-box midfield capabilities and the number six role he plays for England.

The club is also rumored to be interested in signing Chelsea's Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez for £120 million, although the transfer is still in the early stages. Meanwhile, City have agreed to sign Spurs' Brazilian winger Savio on loan for £75 million and are set to make an offer for Newcastle's Spain midfielder Nico Gonzalez for £52 million.