Manchester City have entered the race to sign breakout World Cup star Ayyoub Bouaddi, holding direct talks with Lille over a potential transfer, according to reports. The 18-year-old midfielder, valued at around €80 million (£69 million), has also attracted interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid.
Bouaddi's World Cup Performances
Bouaddi, one of the most highly rated young players in Ligue 1, earned a place in Morocco's squad for the 2026 World Cup. He impressed with commanding performances in midfield as Morocco finished second in Group C behind Brazil. The 2022 semi-finalists have relied on his maturity and versatility, with former France striker Olivier Giroud praising his teammate.
“I've been amazed by his maturity and also his entourage is really good,” Giroud told BBC Radio 5 Live. “His head is well done in the sense that he is calm, confident, he's staying himself. It's a gift to have him in the team and I think Morocco is very, very pleased to have him.”
Interested Clubs and Transfer Talks
Arsenal have maintained regular contact with Bouaddi's entourage since January 2025, while Liverpool, PSG, and Real Madrid have also monitored the teenager. Reports in Spain indicate City have held direct talks with Lille over a possible transfer, though transfer expert Fabrizio Romano suggests City are targeting a move for summer 2027, not immediately.
“Manchester City have genuine interest in Bouaddi. He's one of the players being considered by Manchester City eventually for summer 2027,” Romano said on his YouTube channel. “PSG have also been in touch with people close to the player. Arsenal and Liverpool had meetings before the World Cup for this boy.”
City are already set to complete a £116 million deal for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson but may seek further reinforcements. Bouaddi, meanwhile, remains focused on the World Cup. “I'm really happy to know that some clubs are interested in me,” he told The Athletic. “But for now I'm only focused on the World Cup and we will try to give everything to do our best.”
Giroud's Comparison to Legends
Giroud compared Bouaddi to Patrick Vieira and Sergio Busquets, noting his technical skills and versatility. “He's a complete player, very versatile, all over the place, a bit like N'Golo Kante,” Giroud added. “Over £60-70m, I think it's going to be tough to keep him at Lille.”
