Manchester City signed 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a £85.6m deal on August 26, 2026. The five-year contract makes him the most expensive teenager in Premier League history, surpassing Leny Yoro’s £58.9m move to Manchester United in 2024.
Manchester City have secured one of European football’s most coveted young talents by completing an £85.6m agreement with Lille for midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The 18-year-old arrives on a five-year contract after a fee structure of £81.4m upfront plus £4.2m in add-ons was finalised. The transfer smashes the previous Premier League benchmark for a teenager, surpassing the £58.9 million that Manchester United paid Lille for defender Leny Yoro in 2024.
Midfield Overhaul Follows High-Profile Departures Under Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca’s squad revamp comes in direct response to a busy summer of midfield exits at the Etihad Stadium. City moved aggressively for Bouaddi following the departures of central midfielders Rodri to Barcelona in a £65m deal and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m. The club also brought in England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m to reconstruct the center of the pitch.
Bouaddi functions primarily as a deep-lying conductor, a profile designed to complement Anderson’s box-to-box capabilities. Despite already securing the Lille teenager, City retain an interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. However, negotiations face hurdles as Chelsea value the Argentina midfielder at £120m.
World Cup Breakthrough and Rise Through Ligue 1
Bouaddi’s astronomical valuation is built on a rapid ascent in France and on the international stage. He made 96 appearances for Lille after his senior debut in 2023, where he broke records by becoming the youngest player to ever feature for the club in a European competition during a Europa League match against Faroese club KI at age 16. He later starred in Lille’s Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024 and helped the side finish third in Ligue 1 last season.
After switching his international allegiance from France youth teams to Morocco, Bouaddi started five of his country’s six matches during their run to the World Cup quarter-finals this summer. Speaking on his arrival in Manchester, the teenager expressed his admiration for his new club.
“This is a very special day for me and my family. Manchester City are, for me, the best club in the world. It’s a dream to be here and be able to call myself a City player. I have spent most of my life working hard to become the best player I can be and reach the top of the game.”
Ayyoub Bouaddi, Manchester City midfielder
Lille handled the final stages of the transfer with caution, noting that Bouaddi was omitted from the squad to face Angers despite taking part in the warm-up. We protected Ayyoub and the club, we didn’t take any risks,
Sylvain Armand told Ligue 1+, adding that in the past hours, things have advanced a lot concerning his departure.
Broader Financial Pressures Across French Football
Bouaddi’s departure highlights a wider talent drain across French football, driven by the immense spending power of the Premier League and ongoing financial struggles within Ligue 1. Sales from Ligue 1 to the seven major European and Saudi competitions have roughly trebled in value over the last five years. Transfers directed solely to the Premier League have fetched close to €2bn since the summer of 2021.
Domestic television revenue pressures have accelerated these sales. Following the collapse of Mediapro’s broadcasting agreement in 2020 and an aborted deal with Dazn, French top-flight clubs now generate significantly less from collective TV rights than an average Premier League side earns independently. With Paris Saint-Germain heavily insulated by Qatari backing, the rest of the division relies heavily on high-value player exports to balance budgets, a cycle that has left Ligue 1 sitting fifth in UEFA’s association coefficients.
Next Steps for Maresca’s Squad
Bouaddi arrives at the Etihad Stadium with clear expectations from his manager. With the summer transfer deadline approaching, Maresca’s side prepares for upcoming fixtures while managing outgoing loans, including Egypt forward Omar Marmoush’s agreed loan move to Tottenham.
