Manchester City has officially signed 18-year-old Moroccan international midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Ligue 1 side Lille in a package worth €100 million ($117 million / £86 million).
The deal, confirmed on Wednesday by the Premier League champions, includes a guaranteed upfront payment of €95 million (£81.4 million) with an additional €5 million (£4.2 million) in performance-based add-ons. The contract ties the defensive midfielder to the Etihad Stadium on a five-year deal through June 2031. The purchase makes Bouaddi the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history, surpassing the £58.9 million fee Manchester United paid Lille for Leny Yoro in 2024.
The acquisition highlights an extensive midfield reconstruction under manager Enzo Maresca following the off-season departures of key veterans, including 2024 Men’s Ballon d'Or winner Rodri to Barcelona and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah. Bouaddi is projected to anchor the deep-lying central midfield alongside fellow summer arrival Elliot Anderson.
Bouaddi rapidly developed into one of Europe's top midfield talents after breaking into Lille’s senior side, logging 96 total appearances. His profile surged internationally during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he started five matches to lead Morocco to the quarter-finals.
