Manchester City reaches full verbal agreement with Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City has reached a full verbal agreement with Ayyoub Bouaddi over a potential summer transfer from Lille.

Florian Plettenberg reports that negotiations between City and Lille remain in progress. Several other clubs are monitoring the situation, but the Premier League side is currently leading the race for the 18-year-old midfielder.

The agreement removes the player’s personal terms as a potential obstacle. City must now find common ground with Lille, which has placed an enormous valuation on one of the most coveted young players in European soccer.

Lille president Olivier Létang previously suggested that Bouaddi should be worth more than Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali. The midfielder is contracted to the Ligue 1 club until June 2029, leaving Lille under little pressure to approve a sale below its asking price.

Manchester City has already spent £116 million to sign Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Bouaddi would represent another major investment in the midfield as the club reshapes its squad for Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge.

Despite his age, Bouaddi has already made more than 90 senior appearances for Lille. He became the youngest player to represent the club in a European competition when he made his debut at 16 and later broke Eden Hazard’s record as Lille’s youngest player to reach 50 Ligue 1 appearances.

His reputation grew further during the 2026 World Cup. Bouaddi started five of Morocco’s six matches and was part of the team that reached the quarterfinals before losing to France.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have all been linked with the midfielder during the summer. Those clubs remain in the background, although Bouaddi’s verbal agreement gives City control of the race while talks with Lille continue.

The proposed transfer could also affect Rodri’s future. Real Madrid has opened talks over the Spain international, and City may be more willing to discuss his departure if Bouaddi arrives at the Etihad Stadium.

City has taken an important step by securing Bouaddi’s approval, but the largest hurdle remains the transfer fee. Lille’s contract protection and the amount already invested in the midfielder’s development give it a strong position in the remaining negotiations.

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