Man City continue rebuild after completing £86m deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi

Man City have signed 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for a fee thought to be worth £85.6m with attention now turning to Enzo Fernandez before next Tuesday’s deadline.

The Morocco international joins City to bolster Enzo Maresca‘s midfield, having already signed Elliot Anderson for £116m from Nottingham Forest this summer.

Bouaddi impressed at the World Cup, notably shining against Brazil with the Atlas Lions eventually knocked out by France in the quarter-finals.

“I would say I am a player who plays for the team,” Bouaddi declared. “I am a really collective player.

“I try to put my teammate in the best position and to give everything every time for the team. I think the most important aspect is to try to balance the team, [to] help your teammates.

“We know as a No.6 that you’re not going to score 20 goals in a season; well it can happen but it’s quite rare. So, you know you have to balance the team and do everything for the team and do your job.”

The Cityzens could dip back into the market to sign a third centre-midfielder, with strong ties between Maresca and Enzo Fernandez, with the Italian’s former club Chelsea previously setting a deadline and holding out for upwards of £120m.

City’s rebuild continues after losing Rodri to Barcelona for £65m, Tijjani Reinders to Saudi Arabian side Al-Qadsiah for £52m and Bernardo Silva on a free transfer to Real Madrid, while Nico Gonzalez has been linked with Newcastle.