Manchester City are targeting Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi in a deal worth €100 million (£85 million), with the Premier League club viewing the Lille teenager as a key long-term investment following his impressive performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Guardian reported on Tuesday.
According to the British newspaper, City are determined to sign the 18-year-old, who has emerged as one of Europe's most sought-after young midfielders after helping Morocco reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
The report says Hugo Viana, Manchester City's director of football, is a strong admirer of Bouaddi's technical quality and positional awareness. The club is also confident the 6ft 1in midfielder has the physical attributes required to adapt to the Premier League.
Rather than loaning him out, City reportedly plan to integrate Bouaddi directly into Enzo Maresca's first-team squad next season.
Bouaddi started five of Morocco's six matches at the World Cup, including the quarter-final against France, in what was only his eighth appearance for the national team.
His rapid rise began at Lille, where he made his professional debut in October 2023 in a UEFA Europa Conference League match at the age of 16 years and three days, becoming the youngest player to feature in the competition, according to The Guardian.
If completed, the transfer would take Manchester City's spending on midfield reinforcements this summer to around £200 million, following the reported £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Bouaddi remains under contract with Lille, while several leading European clubs are also monitoring the Moroccan international after his breakthrough World Cup campaign, the report added.
