Manchester City are now closing in on a deal to sign Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the club preparing to bring the highly rated youngster to the Etihad immediately rather than waiting until 2027.
The latest development comes as Manchester City move closer to completing Rodri’s transfer to Barcelona. City have accepted a reported £65.4 million offer for the Spain international, bringing his seven-year spell at the club towards an end.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have now made the decision to complete Bouaddi’s move this summer. Personal terms between the player and City had already been agreed, with negotiations with Lille representing the remaining major step.
Bouaddi personal terms already agreed
Manchester City’s interest in Bouaddi is not new. The club have been working on the deal for several weeks, with Sky Sports reporting earlier this month that personal terms had already been in place while City and Lille continued discussions over the transfer fee.
The 18-year-old midfielder has emerged as one of Europe’s most highly regarded young talents, attracting significant attention following his performances for Lille and Morocco.
Lille head coach Davide Ancelotti has now publicly confirmed that negotiations with Manchester City are taking place.
“There are negotiations,” Ancelotti said, while also making clear that he hopes Bouaddi remains at Lille.
The Lille manager also praised the teenager's maturity, intelligence and physical qualities, describing him as a player capable of becoming one of Europe's best midfielders.
City now want Bouaddi immediately
One of the most significant aspects of the latest development is the timing of the proposed transfer.
Bouaddi had previously been linked with the possibility of joining Manchester City either this summer or in 2027. The latest information indicates that the decision has now been made to bring him to England immediately.
That would allow new City manager Enzo Maresca to integrate the midfielder into his squad from the beginning of the new campaign rather than waiting another year.
Manchester City have already invested heavily in their midfield this summer, including the club-record signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Bouaddi would represent another major addition as City reshape the centre of the team.
Rodri departure changes the picture
Rodri’s imminent departure has added urgency to Manchester City’s midfield plans.
Barcelona have agreed a deal with City for the 30-year-old midfielder, with reports putting the transfer at around £65.4 million. Rodri is expected to return to Spain after seven seasons in Manchester.
The Spain international became one of the most important players in Manchester City’s modern history, winning multiple Premier League titles and scoring the winning goal in the 2023 Champions League final.
His departure leaves a major role to fill in midfield, although City are not necessarily viewing Bouaddi as a direct one-for-one replacement.
Instead, the Moroccan international is being brought in as part of a broader midfield rebuild under Maresca.
Deal with Lille is the final step
Although personal terms are reportedly agreed, Manchester City and Lille still need to complete their negotiations before the transfer can officially be announced.
Earlier reports indicated that Lille were seeking a substantial fee for their young midfielder, with figures around the £85 million mark repeatedly reported. The precise final structure of the deal remains subject to negotiations between the clubs.
The latest developments suggest those negotiations are now at an advanced stage.
Fabrizio Romano's update indicates that City have decided to move for Bouaddi now, while Lille's manager has publicly confirmed that discussions between the clubs are ongoing.
What happens next?
The immediate priority is for Manchester City and Lille to finalize the transfer agreement.
Once the clubs reach a full agreement, Bouaddi would then be able to complete the formalities required to become a Manchester City player.
For now, the transfer should be described as advanced rather than completed.
But with personal terms already agreed, City pushing to bring the player in immediately and Lille publicly acknowledging negotiations, Manchester City are moving closer to adding one of Europe's most promising young midfielders to their squad.
Status: Advanced negotiations — personal terms agreed; club-to-club agreement still to be finalized.
Image Alt Text: Ayyoub Bouaddi in action for Lille as Manchester City close in on his transfer
Category: Transfer News
Tags: Manchester City, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Lille, Rodri, Barcelona, Premier League, Transfer News