Manchester City is reportedly nearing the acquisition of midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille. The Morocco international has reportedly agreed to personal terms with City, though the clubs are still working to finalize the transfer agreement. Lille values the player at 100m euros (£85m).
Bouaddi, who is 18, garnered significant attention during Morocco‘s recent World Cup campaign. His performances, particularly in a group-stage match against Brazil, drew praise for his composure and dominance on the field.
Bouaddi’s rise and playing style
Bouaddi made his competitive debut for Lille in 2023, shortly after his 16th birthday. He later made his full Champions League debut on his 17th birthday, helping his team defeat then-European holders Real Madrid. This result ended Real Madrid‘s 14-game unbeaten streak in the competition, with Bouaddi’s performance noted for containing players like Fede Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Jude Bellingham. Lille manager Bruno Genesio described this as the night the young talent “made a name for himself.”
Carlo Ancelotti, who managed Real Madrid at the time, has since called Bouaddi “one of the best young players in the world.” Bouaddi’s abilities have attracted scouts from various clubs, including Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich, but Manchester City appears to be leading the race for his signature.
Bouaddi is described as a deep-lying controller, similar in style to Rodri. He excels in winning possession, leading his team in possession wins (151) last season and recovery wins per 90 (5.8). His physical presence and ability to carry the ball over distances are also highlighted. His passing during the World Cup further demonstrated his suitability for Manchester City‘s possession-heavy style of play.
Enzo Maresca, Manchester City‘s new manager, reportedly intends to integrate Bouaddi into the first-team squad immediately. Maresca believes Bouaddi is ready for the Premier League, given his nearly 100 competitive appearances for Lille. Bouaddi played for France at various youth levels before switching his allegiance to Morocco.
Midfield dynamics and potential departures
The potential signing of Bouaddi comes as Manchester City is undergoing a midfield rebuild. The club recently signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m. While Anderson is described as more of a box-to-box player, Bouaddi’s role as a tactical anchor would complement him in Maresca’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system.
The acquisition of two new midfielders is seen as necessary to provide qualitative depth for a season that could involve over 60 games. This move is also intended to soften the impact of potential departures. Rodri is expected to leave Manchester City, with Barcelona reportedly confident of signing him. Barcelona‘s initial offer of €45m was rejected, and they may need to make an improved offer. The sale of Ferran Torres, who is of interest to Paris Saint-Germain, could help finance Rodri‘s transfer.
Rodri, who is 30, has one year remaining on his contract. Additionally, Bernardo Silva has left the club, and there is interest from Nottingham Forest in Manchester City‘s Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who was signed from AC Milan last summer for £46m. The potential departures of these experienced players necessitate new additions to maintain the squad’s balance and structure.
Bouaddi is not being targeted for future iterations of Manchester City but is expected to contribute immediately. The club is set to meet Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday and will begin their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth on 23 August.
Source: skysports.com