Man City in advanced talks for £85m Bouaddi, 18

What the report says

Manchester City are reported by BBC Sport to be in advanced talks with Lille over a move for Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the Premier League club hoping to complete the deal this week. Lille are said to value the 18-year-old at about €100 million, or £85.6 million. The report comes amid wider squad changes at City, including a reported sale of Rodri to Barcelona, which could open room in midfield.

Bouaddi has emerged as one of the most closely watched young players in European football. According to the published article, he started five of Morocco’s six matches at this summer’s World Cup, where the team reached the quarter-finals. The piece also says his profile rose after a standout display in Lille’s Champions League win over Real Madrid in 2024, which helped put him on a bigger stage.

The midfielder has already built substantial senior experience for his age. BBC Sport says he has made 88 appearances for Lille since his debut in October 2023, just after his 16th birthday, and helped the French club finish third in Ligue 1 last season. The report describes him as a deep-lying midfielder who could fit into City’s evolving midfield set-up.

More broadly, the potential move reflects the growing market for elite young talent in Europe. If completed, it would add another high-value signing to City’s recruitment strategy while Lille would be in line for a major fee for a player still at the start of his career.