Manchester City have reached an agreement to sign one of European football’s most highly-rated young midfielders, with the club continuing to strengthen their squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
The Premier League champions have been active in the transfer market this summer as they look to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts, with particular attention being placed on adding further quality and depth to midfield.
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One player who has attracted significant attention from across Europe is Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The Lille midfielder has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in French football and has been linked with a move to the Premier League for some time.
Liverpool were among the clubs previously credited with an interest in Bouaddi, with the Reds monitoring his development as they considered potential additions to their midfield.
Other major European clubs had also been linked with Bouaddi, highlighting the level of interest in his services.
However, Manchester City have now won the race for his signature.
According to RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins, a full agreement has been reached between Lille and Manchester City for Bouaddi, with the deal worth €100 million including add-ons.
The agreement represents a record-breaking transfer for Lille and is another indication of the enormous potential possessed by the midfielder.
Bouaddi has developed rapidly since breaking into Lille’s first team, establishing himself as an important player despite his young age.
The latest development also means Bouaddi will not feature for Lille against Angers today, according to Hawkins, with the midfielder seemingly set to complete his move away from the French club.
For Manchester City, they have now secured the services of a player who was attracting interest of Europe’s biggest clubs.
At just 18 years of age, Bouaddi will arrive in Manchester with plenty of time to develop further, but the size of the fee demonstrates that City believe he can become a key player for the club in the years to come.
Manchester City have undergone a significant reshuffle in their midfield department as they have successfuly replaced the departing Rodri and Tijani Reijnders.
🚨💣EXCLUSIVE : Full agreement reached between Lille and Manchester City for Ayyoub Bouaddi. Deal worth €100m including add-ons. A record-breaking transfer for Lille. He won’t play today against Angers 👋🏿🔚 @RMCsport pic.twitter.com/mF8hzR6rSf
— Fabrice Hawkins (@FabriceHawkins) August 23, 2026