Big blow in the transfer market for Manchester City: The Citizens have reached an agreement with Lille for the transfer of Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is expected in the coming hours to undergo the usual medical examinations and sign the contract. An operation that will amount to 85 million pounds (around 100 million euros).
Bouaddi at Manchester City, the numbers
According to Sky Sport, City will pay Lille 81.3 million pounds in fixed amounts, plus 4.3 million in bonuses. After the World Cup with the Moroccan national team, during which he became the protagonist with very good performances, the 19-year-old born in 2007, who will turn 19 on October 2, is ready to start a new adventure in the Premier League. Identified by Enzo Maresca as the ideal profile to reinforce the midfield after the departures of Tijjani Reijnders (transferred to Al-Qadsiah for 61 million euros) and Rodri (transferred to Barcelona for 60 million), Bouaddi becomes the most expensive young footballer, in terms of transfer value, in the history of the Premier League.
Bouaddi's career
Raised in the “Dogues” academy, Bouaddi has quickly gone through all the stages. After making his debut at a very young age with the first team, with whom he has accumulated 96 appearances in three seasons between Ligue 1, Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and the French Cup, the midfielder born in 2007 has imposed himself thanks to an extraordinary tactical maturity, combined with a very good vision of the game and, in general, with an ability to direct the maneuver that has not gone unnoticed by the eyes of several big clubs.
The heir of Rodri
Bouaddi arrives at Manchester City with the label of a foregone conclusion and, most likely, despite the necessary steps he must take, with the task of taking on the heavy legacy left by Rodri, who said goodbye to the "Citizens" after seven seasons, during which he played 298 games, scoring 29 goals and winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups, two Community Shields, a Champions League (decided precisely by his goal in 2023 against Inter), a European Super Cup and a Club World Cup. A record of absolute level, to which must be added the European and World Cup won with Spain, the 2024 Ballon d'Or and the 2018 European Super Cup with Atletico Madrid.
