Man City Sign Ayyoub Bouaddi From Lille For £85.6m

City rebuild midfield after Rodri and Reijnders exits

Ayyoub Bouaddi has become Manchester City's second signing under Enzo Maresca, joining from Lille in an £85.6m deal.

Bouaddi has signed a five-year contract, keeping him at City until the summer of 2031, with City paying a fixed fee of £81.3m plus £4.3m in add-ons.

Maresca's side moved to sign the 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder after selling central midfielders Rodri to Barcelona in a £65.4m deal and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m. Bouaddi will form part of a revamped midfield, with City having already brought in England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m.

A breakout World Cup for the 18-year-old

Bouaddi impressed at this summer's World Cup, starting five of Morocco's six matches in their run to the quarter-finals, after becoming a key member of Lille's side in Ligue 1.

"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," said Bouaddi.

"I have spent most of my life working hard to become the best player I can be and reach the top of the game.

"I've watched City for many years, and I love their style of play. City always try and play quality football. And they have shown they are winners - this club feels like it's built to win."

A key figure in Lille's Champions League push

The young midfielder made his professional debut in 2023, going on to make 96 appearances and helping Lille finish third in Ligue 1 last season to qualify for the Champions League.

Bouaddi functions as a deep-lying conductor and would complement Anderson, who is comfortable as a box-to-box midfielder as well as the number six role he plays for England.

City are also set to make an offer for Chelsea's Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, though it remains to be seen whether a deal can be struck with the 25-year-old valued at £120m.