Manchester City sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for £85.6m

sportsAug 26, 20264571

Manchester City have signed 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in an £85.6m deal, subject to international clearance, on a five-year contract running to 2031. The fee is reported as £81.4m upfront plus £4.2m in add-ons, which makes Bouaddi the Premier League's most expensive teenager. Bouaddi, who will wear the No 32 shirt, started five of Morocco's six matches at this summer's World Cup and made 96 appearances for Lille after debuting for the French side in 2023; he became Lille's youngest-ever player at 16 in a Europa League match against KI and featured in Lille's 2024 Champions League victory over Real Madrid. City signed Bouaddi after selling central midfielders Rodri to Barcelona for £65m and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m, and he joins a midfield already bolstered by England midfielder Elliot Anderson, a club-record signing. Bouaddi describes joining City as a dream and praised the club's style and winning culture. The signing further transforms Manchester City's midfield while the club considers a bid for Chelsea's Enzo Fernández, valued at about £120m.

NUFC Twitter Bot

@nufcjournalistbot.bsky.social

Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) 🚨 🎥 First sighting of Nico González in Newcastle! ✍🏼 The Spanish midfielder is putting the finishing touches to his £50m transfer to #NUFC from Man City today. 💤 He stayed on Tyneside last night and is midway through his Newcastle United medical. 🔝 Feels (1/2)

225h ago

verbatim147.bsky.social6

City fan here. Sorry to see him go. Although not that quick, great passer and football brain and has more skill than you think. Good signing for you guys.

NUFC Twitter Bot3

like a big signing for Matthias Jaissle. 📺 Much more on this story and pics of Nico in Newcastle on @SkySportsNews (2/2)

Quoting this

Josh6

NOT HAPPENING. MOVE ON GUYS. #NUFC

Matt Fletcher3

In my next life I want the job that guy in the shirt has.

Dean2

I wonder whose Roma that is

Jack McNally2

Incredible signing this. Reckon we get 2 seasons out of him before he’s hand picked by one of the big boys. #NUFC

Scott Daley2

Absolutely pied that kid 😂😭

James Nalton

@jdnalton.bsky.social

Future Man City player Cavan Sullivan turns 17 next month and has made two big steps up in his game at Philadelphia Union this year, with the most noticeable coming post-World Cup. Article for @fotmob.com on the American wonderkid www.fotmob.com/topnews/2923...

74h ago

Fabrizio Romano (MIRROR)

@fabrizioromano.yopro20.com

🩵🇲🇦 Ayyoub Bouaddi completed his medical at Manchester City and joins the club on €95m plus €5m deal from Lille. All documents have been signed by the clubs.

9Yesterday

Stefan Bienkowski

@sbienkowski.bsky.social

Of all the crazy transfer fees flying around this summer, €100m for Ayyoub Bouaddi actually makes perfect sense.

72h ago

Adam Marrett

@adammarrett.bsky.social

Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille which is a massive signing as Bouaddi looms as a key player for the here and now and will be a big part of the future for City. esteemedkompany.com/2026/08/26/t...

42h ago

Ben Jacobs

@jacobsben.bsky.social

Manchester City confirm Ayyoub Bouaddi has joined from Lille on a five-year contract. €95m+€5m fee.🇲🇦 🗣️ Bouaddi: “I think here the most important thing is to win. In a big club you need to win and this is all that we are going to do. We are going to give 100% to achieve all of our goals.”

32h ago

City Xtra

@cityxtra.bsky.social

The agent of Andrea Cambiaso has opened up on #ManCity interest. cityxtra.co.uk/news/manches...

23h ago

Treblig 🇺🇦

@camtreblig.bsky.social

Productive jobs, like reporting the exclusive news that Enzo Fernandez might join Man City but it depends

44h ago

morgw1982.bsky.social

@morgw1982.bsky.social

That fee for Gonzalez looks like a cracking bit of business especially when Spurs seem have had their pants pulled down by Man City over Savinho. Here’s hoping for a least another couple with defensive cover needed #nufc

44h ago

Man Incognito

@sjbrewer.bsky.social

✍️🏻 *CONFIRMED* ✍️🏻 Man City have completed the signing of Moroccan international *Ayyoub Bouaddi* on a 5-year contract, subject to international clearance. The 18-year-old midfielder joins from French side Lille on a deal until 2031. €95m plus €5m add-ons package.

11h ago

Chris Weatherspoon

@cweatherspoon.bsky.social

'There is no sell-on fee due to Marmoush’s former side Eintracht Frankfurt.' www.nytimes.com/athletic/752...

25h ago

Match of the Day {bot}

@bbcmotdbot.bsky.social

Did Spurs overpay for Savio to help Man City with Marmoush? Here's your answer ⬇️

12h ago

Steve Nash

@notthatstevenash.bsky.social

Unless of course it's just Chelsea and Man City somehow breaking all the effing rules again. It's 'remarkable' how these massive sales are all to the same club(s).

12h ago

Nizaar Kinsella

@nizaarkinsella.bsky.social

Latest on Enzo Fernandez with @SamiMokbel_BBC. A first Manchester City bid is expected to formally arrive imminently. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

13h ago

Steve Jackson

@stja.bsky.social

"However, it remains to be seen whether Barca retain their buy-back agreement, which was previously in place with Man City." Can they do that? Is that a thing? #nufc

13h ago

3 sources

nytimes.comManchester City announce signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille bbc.co.ukAyyoub Bouaddi: Manchester City sign Morocco midfielder from Lille in £85.6m deal lemonde.frAyyoub Bouaddi s’engage à Manchester City, un transfert à l’étranger record pour un footballeur de Ligue 1

Manchester City sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for £85.6msports

Manchester City sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for £85.6m

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