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David Tully Jul 22nd 2026
Man City are expected to win the race for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to reports.
TEAMtalk claim that Enzo Maresca’s side are “now on course to complete” the transfer, beating the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool to his signature, having acceded to Lille’s demands.
The Ligue One side have been holding out for €100m (£85m) to sell Bouaddi this summer, and beyond some minor issues, there is believed to be a broad agreement in place on the fee.
The 18-year-old would become the most expensive teenager in football history if the deal is finalised.
Romeo Lavia is currently the holder of that record, with Chelsea having paid £58m for the Belgian in the summer of 2023.
Why are Man City willing to spend so much on another midfielder?
Some fans may question the need to bring in Bouaddi now, with the Manchester club having already shelled out £116m on Elliot Anderson.
However, Director of Football Hugo Viana firmly believes that the pair will be the spine of City’s midfield for many years to come.
Bouaddi would be deployed as the no.6, with Anderson expected to play slightly further forward as a no.8 if they do link up at the Etihad.
What would Bouaddi’s arrival mean for Rodri?
The fact that the Cityzens are so determined to secure the Moroccan international’s services, rather than wait a year, suggests they know something we don’t.
Rodri has had another outstanding international tournament, having been named the World Cup’s best player, having previously won a similar accolade at Euro 2024.
However, the 30-year-old has shown no signs that he is willing to put pen to paper on a new contract, and with his current deal expiring next year, a parting of ways this summer looks increasingly likely.
Real Madrid are said to be seriously contemplating a move for the player, with Rodri actively encouraging the interest. We shall see how things develop over the coming days.
David Tully
David Tully
David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for the Football News Network.