Arsenal are among a host of European clubs interested in Lille rising star Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to journalist Santi Aouna.
The Gunners, along with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Manchester United, are reportedly keen on signing the promising 18-year-old after the season and have already made a move.
Bouaddi is expected to be on the move this summer as he aims to take the next step in his career and join one of Europe’s top clubs to boost his development.
While no club has made a formal offer, the 18-year-old has no shortage of suitors, with Arsenal and PSG reportedly viewing the move as a ‘top transfer priority’.
Arsenal Keen on Ayoub Bouaddi
Bouaddi
Competition for Bouaddi’s signature next year is expected to be fierce, with Arsenal appearing to be the most serious contenders to challenge PSG.
Lille are anticipated to demand a significant fee for the 18-year-old, whose contract with the Ligue 1 side runs until the end of the 2028/29 season.
Bouaddi has emerged as ‘one of the biggest talents in world football’ over the past 12 months, during which he has become an important player for Lille.
The 18-year-old already has 79 senior appearances to his name for the Ligue 1 side, including 50 league games, where he has registered four assists to date.
While he mostly operates in central midfield, Bouaddi can also play in a more defensive role, shielding the back four, and has drawn comparisons with Liverpool star Curtis Jones due to similarities in his style of play.
Bouaddi is a France U21 international and has won eight caps to date, scoring once.
Arsenal’s January Business So Far
Andrea Berta
While Bouaddi appears to be a target for the summer, Arsenal are not expected to welcome any signings ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline.
After welcoming eight new players last summer, the Gunners had no pressing need to spend in January and are set to go into the second part of the season with a largely unchanged squad.
Mikel Arteta’s side sent Ethan Nwaneri on loan to Marseille and are close to agreeing a deal for Oleksandr Zinchenko’s move to Ajax.
The Ukraine international spent the first part of the season on loan at Nottingham Forest, where he has made just 10 appearances in all competitions.
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