Manchester City seal €100m Bouaddi deal as midfield rebuild gathers pace

Manchester City have agreed a deal worth up to €100m to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, making the 18-year-old Morocco international the third most expensive player in the club’s history as their summer midfield rebuild accelerates under Enzo Maresca.

City will pay an initial €95m for Bouaddi, with a further €5m available in add-ons. Only Elliot Anderson, signed for £116m earlier this summer, and Jack Grealish have ever cost the club more.

Bouaddi arrives as City seek to fill the void left by the exits of captain Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders. The teenager, who impressed at this summer’s World Cup at just 18, is expected to sign a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium. A former France Under-21 international, he ultimately chose to represent Morocco at senior level.

His signing makes him City’s second major midfield acquisition of the window alongside Anderson, and the club may not stop there. They have also registered an interest in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, and could pursue a third midfield addition depending on further outgoings.

City have raised around £150m in sales this summer through the departures of James Trafford, Nathan Ake, Rodri and Reijnders, a figure set to rise significantly with the £85m sale of Savinho to Tottenham. Nico Gonzalez could follow to Newcastle, and Omar Marmoush may also depart, further funding Maresca’s squad overhaul in his first full summer in charge.