Ayyoub Bouaddi (left) is all over transfer gossip columns.
Ayyoub Bouaddi (left) is all over transfer gossip columns. | MB Media/Getty Images
Ayyoub Bouaddi
Bouaddi has earned some big comparisons. | Jean Catuffe/Getty Images
“[He will cost] over €60–70 million. I think it’s going to be tough to keep him at Lille. He’s a complete player. He’s all over the place like N’Golo [Kanté]. The only thing he has to improve, and he knows that because we’ve been teasing him a lot about that is finishing.
“If he’s got it, he will play in Real Madrid next year.”
How Bouaddi Ranks Against Ligue 1 Under-25 Midfielders (2025–26)*
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Statistic Rank
Passes 10th
Tackles 10th
Interceptions 9th
Passes Blocked 2nd
Fouls 1st
*statistics from WhoScored
Real Madrid Seeking New Midfielder
José Mourinho
José Mourinho wants more strength in midfield. | Valter Gouveia/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Few clubs love using the World Cup as a shop window like Real Madrid and AS say that Bouaddi is indeed a player on their radar, as they continue making plans for a summer of change.
The report claims that Madrid head scout Juni Calafat “issued very positive reports” on the young midfield star earlier this year and that he is very much on the club’s radar.
A deep-lying midfielder is believed to be high on Madrid’s list of priorities this summer, with the club still seeking long-term replacements for Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić.
AS specifically states that new manager José Mourinho’s preference is for “a physically imposing player who also possesses the necessary passing ability to orchestrate the team's play”. Chelsea Enzo Fernández and West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes are under consideration monitored.
At just 18, it feels unlikely that Real Madrid would make Bouaddi the centerpiece of their midfield and they may be more likely to go for a more experienced option this summer. However, there is always the possibilty that he could be signed alongside a more senior target, if the money is right.
In addition to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been mentioned as possible landing spots for Bouaddi in recent days. Expect interest to grow if Morocco continues to perform well at the World Cup.
READ THE LATEST REAL MADRID NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT FROM SI FC
Ayyoub Bouaddi is already lighting up the World Cup.
Ayyoub Bouaddi is already lighting up the World Cup. | Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar/Getty Images