Ayyoub Bouaddi, Manchester City and Lille
26 August 2026
Manchester City have signed 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for £85.6 million, making him the Premier League’s most expensive teenager. He signed a five-year contract, with City paying £81.4 million upfront plus £4.2 million in add-ons.
City moved for Bouaddi after major midfield departures including Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders. He joins fellow summer recruit Elliot Anderson in a rebuilt midfield after making 96 Lille appearances and starting five matches during Morocco’s World Cup quarter-final run.