Manchester City have emerged as frontrunners to sign Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with reports from Spain indicating the Premier League champions have already held direct discussions with the French club over a potential deal.
The 18-year-old has been one of the standout young players in Ligue 1 and carried that form into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where his commanding performances at the centre of Morocco’s midfield helped the Atlas Lions finish second in Group C behind Brazil. Morocco, who reached the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, have once again demonstrated their credentials on the global stage.
According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, however, an immediate summer move is unlikely. City’s preferred structure is understood to involve signing Bouaddi now and loaning him back to Lille for the 2026-27 season, with the club viewing the teenager as a genuine first-team target from the summer of 2027 onwards rather than an immediate acquisition.
City are not alone in their pursuit. Arsenal are also understood to have maintained regular contact with Bouaddi’s camp since January 2025, according to reports, positioning themselves as a serious alternative ahead of any potential bidding process. The north London club are reportedly ready to make a formal offer following his World Cup performances.
The interest arrives as Manchester City are simultaneously closing in on a separate midfield reinforcement. The club are reportedly in advanced stages of a £116 million deal for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, suggesting a significant rebuild of their engine room is underway this window.
Bouaddi, for his part, has been measured in his public response to the mounting transfer speculation. Speaking to The Athletic, the teenager said: “I am really happy to know that some clubs are interested in me. But for now I am only focused on the World Cup and we will try to give everything to do our best.”
The loan-back model City are reportedly considering is a structure increasingly used by top European clubs to secure highly-rated young talent while allowing them additional development time in familiar surroundings. Should the deal proceed as outlined, Bouaddi would join City’s first-team setup ahead of the 2027-28 season at 19 years of age.
With Morocco still active at the 2026 World Cup, Bouaddi’s stock is likely to rise further before any transfer window negotiations reach a conclusion. Both City and Arsenal will be watching closely as the tournament progresses.
