Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has indicated his firm desire to join Manchester City this summer, according to a new report.
Elliot Anderson: Ayyoub Bouaddi's Manchester City midfield partner?
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Manchester City are believed to have agreed personal terms with the 18-year-old Morocco international, whose stock is higher than ever after an eye-catching FIFA World Cup campaign in North America earlier this summer.
Ayyoub Bouaddi has been identified as a potential addition to the Manchester City midfield by transfer officials at the Etihad Stadium as the Blues embark upon life without Pep Guardiola - who left after a decade in charge of the club back in May.
Bernardo Silva has since joined Real Madrid after leaving Manchester City as a free agent, and with Tijjani Reijnders expected to complete a transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah, City manager Enzo Maresca needs reinforcements.
Elliot Anderson joined City from Nottingham Forest for a club record £116 million fee in June, but after a meagre display in Sunday’s FA Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, City bosses will have been given a fresh reminder of the gulf between themselves and the reigning Premier League champions.
Bouaddi agrees Man City transfer as Lille talks continue
Now, according to Jeremy Cross of the Daily Mirror, Manchester City are confident of wrapping up a deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi by the end of the week, though it remains to be seen whether the teenager will be registered in time for Sunday’s Premier League opener against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.
The 18-year-old has given his go-ahead to join forces with Enzo Maresca in east Manchester, with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said to have been impressed with the youngster’s ability and maturity - traits that were clearly on show in Morocco’s impressive FIFA World Cup campaign earlier this summer.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has lifted the lid on the club’s ongoing pursuit of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi after Sunday’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.cityxtra.co.ukEnzo Maresca Breaks Silence on Ayyoub Bouaddi in Clear Man City Transfer Message to Hugo Viana
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has lifted the lid on the club’s ongoing pursuit of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi after Sunday’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
Maresca is also understood to be eyeing Ayyoub Bouaddi as the ideal long-term replacement for Bernardo Silva, who has left big shoes to fill at the heart of Manchester City’s midfield by deciding against signing a new deal and pursuing a new chapter in Spain.
A five-year contract has been tabled for Bouaddi, whose move to Manchester City will progress after Rodri arrived in Barcelona on Monday to put the finishing touches on his agreed £65.4 million move to Catalunya.
Will Bouaddi be a regular starter at Man City?
Enzo Maresca and his Manchester City coaching staff will be mindful of expecting too much too soon from Ayyoub Bouaddi, who will only turn 19-years-old in October and has his best years well ahead of him.
While Lille initially wanted to have their prized starlet back on loan from Manchester City for the 2026/27 season, the Blues have made it clear they want the Moroccan to embed into Maresca’s ranks as soon as a deal is closed.
With City set to lose another cornerstone of their midfield in Rodri - having already bid farewell to Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Ilkay Gundogan in the last 12 months, Ayyoub Bouaddi will be aware of the weight of expectation on his shoulders at the Etihad Stadium.
However, it is unlikely that the teenager will be thrown into the deep end right away as Maresca and co. are expected to allow Bouaddi to settle, learn his trade day-in and day-out in training, and gradually start making an impact on the pitch.