Manchester City sign teenage Moroccan football star Ayyoub Bouaddi

Sought-after midfielder Bouaddi joins the Premier League club from Lille in a five-year deal worth $117 million. Manchester City have signed teenage Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a deal worth 100 million euros ($117 million), the French club has confirmed. Lille announced Bouaddi’s departure on a five-year deal on Wednesday, putting an end to ongoing speculation about the emerging football star’s future. Ten-time Premier League champions Manchester City were in talks to sign Bouaddi after selling Rodri to Barcelona and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah, with Nico Gonzalez also poised to leave the Etihad. Bouaddi was a crucial part of Morocco’s FIFA World Cup 2026 squad, showing a calm presence in the midfield as the Atlas Lions reached the quarterfinals of the tournament before falling to France.

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Scoop News DeskManchester, New Hampshire · Published Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 11:06 AM UTCUpdated Thursday, August 27, 2026 at 8:53 AM UTC

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Lille extended Bouaddi’s contract last year and, with three years remaining on the deal, they were expecting suitors to meet the 100 million euros (€117m) asking price. “This is a very special day for me and my family,” Bouaddi said in a statement shared by City. “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.

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