Manchester City have reached an agreement in principle worth up to €100 million (£86m) with Lille for 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, a package comprising a fixed fee of £81.3m plus performance-related add-ons. The Morocco international was withdrawn from Lille's Ligue 1 fixture against Angers on Sunday ahead of a medical with the Premier League club.
The transfer would make Bouaddi the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history, surpassing the £58.9m Manchester United paid for Leny Yoro in 2024. Capable of playing as a defensive midfielder or in a more advanced role, Bouaddi started five of Morocco's six matches at this summer's World Cup, including the quarter-final loss to France.
The signing accelerates a midfield rebuild under Enzo Maresca following the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders. Combined with the earlier £116m acquisition of Elliot Anderson, City's summer expenditure now approaches £200m. The club also retains interest in Chelsea's Enzo Fernández, though the London side are understood to value the Argentine at £120m.