Man City face Thursday morning deadline to register £81.4m signing Bouaddi for Crystal Palace

Manchester City are racing against an accelerated registration deadline to complete the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, with the 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder set to cost an initial £81.4m plus up to £4.3m in add-ons.

Premier League rules require new signings to be registered by midday on the day before a club’s next fixture. Because City face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Friday evening — the earliest possible kick-off slot — all paperwork must be finalised by Thursday morning at the latest if Bouaddi is to be eligible for selection.

City are confident the deal will be completed in time, with the medical described as the last significant hurdle. Bouaddi has already been involved in Lille’s pre-season after returning from his summer break following the World Cup, meaning he could slot straight into Enzo Maresca’s squad without a lengthy acclimatisation period.

The Bouaddi pursuit is one piece of a broader and busy end to City’s transfer window. The club are also working to sign Brazilian winger Allan from Palmeiras as they prepare to sell Savinho to Tottenham Hotspur. Beyond those deals, City are still seeking at least two more midfielders and a forward before the window closes if they are to give Maresca the squad depth originally intended.

The trip to Selhurst Park this week sits in the middle of what is expected to be a significant period of activity, with notable arrivals and departures still to be confirmed on either side of the fixture.