Manchester City triggers a three-pronged summer transfer window around Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City have signed Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille on a five-year contract. The deal is worth 95 million euros, with a further 5 million euros in bonuses possible, bringing the total to up to 100 million euros. This amount makes it the biggest sale in the history of the northern French club and the most expensive transfer ever completed for a teenager in the Premier League.

Whatever the final figure reached with bonuses, the deal far exceeds the 58.9 million pounds paid by Manchester United to Lille for Leny Yoro in 2024. Bouaddi arrives with a profile already exposed to the top level: 96 matches played for Lille since his debut in 2023, including 30 in Ligue 1 during the 2025-2026 season. At 18 years old, he was also a starter in five of the six matches played by Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, which ended with a place in the quarter-finals.

A completely redrawn midfield

This signing does not simply fill a gap: it is part of a deep rebuild of Manchester City's midfield.

• Rodri left the club for FC Barcelona, in a transfer estimated at around 65 million pounds.
• Tijjani Reijnders moved to Al-Qadsiah for around 52 million pounds.
• Elliot Anderson joined Manchester City from Nottingham Forest for around 116 million pounds, becoming the most expensive signing in the club's history.

Manchester City are also working on a push for Enzo Fernández. The Argentine Chelsea midfielder is reportedly valued at around 120 million pounds, but no formal offer has yet been confirmed and the deal remains uncertain as the transfer window nears its close.

The Ayyoub Bouaddi card

At 18 years old, Bouaddi does not arrive at Manchester City as a mere bet on potential. His volume of matches with Lille and his international exposure with Morocco already show a certain maturity for his age.

After signing, the young midfielder explained that Manchester City represented the best club in the world for him and that he had dreamed of this for a long time. He also described the club as a team built to win.

'The best club in the world', 'a team built to win' — Ayyoub Bouaddi's words after signing.

A transfer window that continues on other fronts

The citizens' transfer window is not limited to the midfield. Savinho, now known as Sávio, has left Manchester City for Tottenham in a deal that could reach 85 million pounds, including bonuses.

Omar Marmoush is also set to join Tottenham on loan with an obligation to buy that could reach 60 million pounds.

Meanwhile, Nico González is set to join Newcastle in a deal estimated at around 52 million pounds.

With Bouaddi, Anderson, the departures of Rodri and Reijnders and the many moves still underway, Manchester City are pursuing a profound transformation of their squad amid a particularly active transfer window.