Manchester City pushing hard to sign £85m Bouaddi after Morocco's World Cup run

Manchester City are the frontrunners to sign Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the club pushing hard for a deal expected to cost in the region of £85 million, according to a report by David Ornstein for The Athletic.

Bouaddi, 18, caught the attention of clubs across Europe after featuring in all but one of Morocco’s matches at the World Cup, including their quarter-final defeat to France. The Atlas Lions’ run to the last eight served to sharpen interest in a player already well tracked by recruitment departments at the continent’s leading clubs.

“Prominent among them are Manchester City, and the 10-time Premier League champions are pushing hard for Bouaddi ahead of him making a decision on his future, which is expected soon,” Ornstein writes.

Born in northern France, Bouaddi joined Lille’s academy five years ago and has made more than 60 Ligue 1 appearances since his debut in 2023. He progressed through France’s youth ranks from under-16 to under-21 level before switching international allegiance to Morocco — a decision that came less than two months after playing for France Under-21s against Iceland. He was named in Mohamed Ouahbi’s World Cup squad without having previously represented Morocco at any level.

Ornstein reports that Arsenal and Manchester United have also been in contact with Bouaddi’s camp over the past year, making the £85 million asking price a significant factor in determining which clubs remain serious suitors. While some interested parties would be open to completing a deal and allowing Bouaddi to remain at Lille on loan for another season, City are said to prefer integrating him into their squad immediately.

The move would be the latest addition to an already active summer window at the Etihad. City have signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, 19-year-old Troyes winger Mathys Detourbet — who has been immediately loaned to Monaco — and goalkeepers and wide players from clubs relegated from the Championship.