Manchester City in Advanced Talks to Sign Lille Midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi
· Sports · BBC Sport, New York Times, Sportstar
Manchester City is in advanced negotiations with Lille to sign 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for a reported fee of 100 million euros. The club aims to finalize the transfer this week following the decision to sell Rodri to Barcelona for 65 million pounds. Bouaddi, who debuted for Lille at age 16, gained international prominence after starting all five of Morocco's matches during their 2024 World Cup campaign. He is expected to serve as a deep-lying conductor, providing tactical balance alongside fellow summer signing Elliot Anderson. Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca remains interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, though it is unclear how the arrival of Bouaddi might affect that pursuit.
Why it matters
The acquisition of Bouaddi signals a significant midfield restructuring for Manchester City as they prepare for the departure of Ballon d'Or winner Rodri. This move impacts the club's tactical setup and financial allocation for the remainder of the transfer window.
Read the original report — BBC Sport
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