Ayyoub Bouaddi has found himself at the center of one of this summer’s most talked-about transfer sagas.
Ayyoub Bouaddi has found himself at the center of one of this summer’s most talked-about transfer sagas, but the 18-year-old Lille midfielder insists his focus is firmly fixed on one thing for now: the World Cup with Morocco.
The teenager’s stock has skyrocketed following a standout performance in Morocco’s Group C opener against Brazil, a match stacked with global superstars including Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, Achraf Hakimi, and Ismael Saibari.
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Despite the star power around him, it was Bouaddi who drew the most attention, controlling the tempo and showing the kind of composure that has scouts across Europe buzzing.
That performance has only intensified interest from Liverpool and Arsenal, both of whom have reportedly held direct talks with Bouaddi’s representatives.
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, speaking on the Here We Go podcast, the two Premier League clubs have been in contact with the player’s camp between January and recent weeks, with Romano suggesting a fee in the region of €60-70m would likely be needed to get a deal done.
Reports in England have offered slightly varying figures, with some suggesting Lille value Bouaddi at around £60m, though the French club are reportedly reluctant to sell at this stage.
Speaking to The Athletic after the Brazil game, Bouaddi addressed the growing speculation directly:
“For the moment, I am only focused on the World Cup and I cannot answer to this right now.”
“Of course, I’m really happy to know that some clubs are interested in me.”
“But, for now, I’m only focused on the World Cup with Morocco and we will try to give everything to do our best.”
His response strikes a balance familiar to many young players caught up in transfer talk during a major tournament, acknowledging the interest without being drawn into speculation, while keeping his public focus on the international stage.
Born on October 2, 2007, Bouaddi has had an extraordinary rise.
In October 2023, at just 16 years and 3 days old, he became the youngest player ever to feature in a European club competition, breaking a record previously held by Youssoufa Moukoko, during a UEFA Europa Conference League match against KÍ Klaksvík.
He has since become a regular fixture for Lille, racking up over 35 appearances this season across all competitions.
Standing at 6’1″ and operating as a defensive or deep-lying midfielder, Bouaddi has built a reputation as a press-resistant, tempo-setting presence — a player who slows the game down, draws opponents in, and then breaks lines with a perfectly weighted pass.
His passing accuracy has reportedly sat in the high 80s to low 90s percentile range this season.
With Liverpool searching for fresh midfield options under new manager Andoni Iraola, and Arsenal also said to have opened talks, the coming weeks could prove pivotal.
For now, though, Bouaddi’s message is clear: Morocco’s World Cup campaign comes first, and the transfer talk can wait.