Get to know our exciting new midfielder a little better with a few facts about Ayyoub Bouaddi’s career before he completed his move to Manchester City.
Artist at work
Bouaddi was born in the historic town of Senlis, around 40 miles north of Paris, which is the same birthplace as the painter Thomas Couture who also taught Edouard Manet.
Teenage kicks
The midfielder made his senior debut for Lille in a UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match against Faroese club KÍ just, three days after turning 16 in a 0-0 draw.
Birthday boy
The following season Lille qualified for the Champions League and Bouaddi made his first start against 13-times winners Real Madrid on his 17th birthday. He helped the French side to a 1-0 win with fans singing ‘Joyeux Anniversaire’ or Happy Birthday to him during the celebrations.
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Rising star
Of anyone under 18 in the top five leagues of England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy, Bouaddi played the most minutes (2,329 in total) and made the most appearances (30).
Top marks
He completed a science-focused high school diploma a year early with above-average grades and has been studying for a mathematics degree in his spare time.
Flexible friend
The 18-year-old starred at the World Cup in as a holding midfielder, dictating Morocco’s play, particularly in a brilliant performance against Brazil. He can also play further forward and has also played at right-back.
In the family
His father, Hassan Bouaddi, was a former handball player and a significant political figure in Creil, where he served as the deputy mayor.
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Early creator
Bouaddi is the second youngest player – behind Eduardo Camavinga – to register an assist in Ligue 1. Days after his 17th birthday, he set up Mitchel Bakker’s second half winner in the 2-1 victory over Toulouse.
French prodigy
He is also the third-youngest player to ever feature for the French Under-21s behind M’Baye Niang and Camavinga before switching to play for Morocco and he is the first African teenage player to make five World Cup appearances.
Speak easy
In 2023, he won a public speaking contest open to players enrolled at professional academies in France, at the Elysee Palace in front of Brigitte Macron, the wife of president Emmanuel Macron.
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