Manchester City advance talks for Bouaddi following Rodri departure

Manchester City are in advanced negotiations with Lille to secure the services of 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Premier League club is aiming to finalise the transfer within the current week, with Lille valuing the player at 100 million euros, equivalent to approximately £85.6 million.

The potential acquisition follows the agreed sale of Rodri to Barcelona. The Spanish captain has signed a four-year contract with the La Liga side in a deal worth £65 million. Rodri, who was named player of the tournament at the World Cup, led Spain to their second global title before departing the Etihad Stadium.

Rodri made 298 appearances for Manchester City across seven seasons after joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then-club record fee of £62.8 million. His time at the club was interrupted by a serious knee injury during the 2024-25 campaign and a hamstring issue that disrupted parts of the previous season.

Bouaddi has made 88 appearances for Lille since his debut in October 2023, shortly after his 16th birthday. He played a pivotal role in Lille’s Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024 and helped the club finish third in Ligue 1 last season. He started all five of Morocco’s matches during their run to the quarter-finals at the recent World Cup.

City manager Enzo Maresca views Bouaddi as a deep-lying midfielder who would complement summer signing Elliot Anderson, who operates as a box-to-box midfielder and number six for England. Despite the move for Bouaddi, sources indicate that Maresca retains a strong interest in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.