€100 million gamble: Manchester City eyes Moroccan prodigy as Rodri replacement

Manchester City are on the verge of signing 18‑year‑old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for €100 million on a five‑year contract, positioning him as a potential replacement for departing Spanish midfielder Rodri. The deal, reported by , would see the Morocco (Marrocos) international join the English club this week.

€100 million fee and five‑year contract

Bouaddi, who belongs to Lille in França, is set to cost the English side €100 million, equivalent to R$ 602,4 million, with a contract that runs for five seasons. The midfielder was one of the highlights of Morocco’s campaign at the Copa Mundo.

According to , City have already reached an agreement with Bouaddi on personal terms and are preparing the five‑year contract. The clubs still need to settle the payment schedule and performance‑related bonuses before the transfer can be officially confirmed.

Rodri’s exit creates midfield vacancy

Rodri’s move to Barcelona for €76,5 million (R$ 460,84 million) left a significant gap in City’s midfield. With the Spanish international’s departure now confirmed, City have accelerated talks to secure Bouaddi as a primary option.

Sporting director Hugo Viana has been in contact with Lille president Olivier Letang to facilitate the youngster’s arrival, waiting for Rodri’s future to be settled before committing fully.

Bouaddi was born in France, captained the French under‑21 side and switched allegiance to Morocco in May, choosing to represent the African nation at the professional level. His performances helped Morocco reach the quarter‑finals of the World Cup before being eliminated by France.

Arsenal, Paris Saint‑Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were also reported to be monitoring the midfielder, underscoring the high demand for his services across Europe.

City’s recent spending includes a €135 million (R$ 813,25 million) fee for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, and manager Enzo Maresca is linked with a move for Enzo Fernández from Chelsea as a possible replacement for Tijjani Reijnders, who is set to join Al‑Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia.

The club expects the Bouaddi deal to be finalised within the week, pending the resolution of payment terms and bonus clauses, positioning the 18‑year‑old as the next key figure in Manchester City’s midfield rebuild.