Why PSG let Ayyoub Bouaddi go for €100 million to Manchester City
Long touted as a target of Paris Saint‑Germain, the young Moroccan international Ayyoub Bouaddi finally signed for Manchester City this summer, after an offer of one hundred million euros, bonuses included. Considered one of the most promising midfielders of his generation, he has never been the subject of an official approach by the Parisian club.
The reasons for Parisian disinterest
For almost two seasons, Bouaddi's name has regularly resurfaced in discussions about the PSG transfer market. Despite interest from several major European clubs, the capital's club never placed the player among its priorities, with the sporting choices of Luis Enrique and Luis Campos explaining this lack of fruition. As early as spring 2026, the two men had set a precise roadmap for the summer transfer window, excluding the midfielder from the list of positions to strengthen.
The Spanish coach already had a complete squad at that position, with João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, Warren Zaïre‑Emery, Senny Mayulu and Dro Fernández. He was also counting on promoting youngsters from the academy, such as Zaïre‑Emery and Mayulu, whose contract was extended until 2031, a sign of a desire to develop internal talent rather than recruit new players.
Luis Enrique's aborted project resurfaces before clash with Manchester City
LOSC, the Lille club, saw in Bouaddi's profile a player tailor‑made for Luis Enrique's system, highlighting his technical quality, maturity and performances in the Champions League. PSG was among the clubs monitoring his development, but never regarded the midfielder as a strategic priority.
Faced with this lack of interest, Manchester City quickly seized the opportunity by putting forward a massive one‑hundred‑million‑euro proposal, including bonuses. This offer sealed the player's departure and confirmed the Manchester City executives' intention to heavily bet on his potential.
After the break, PSG resumes its march towards the Champions League
On Wednesday evening, during a Champions League match, Bouaddi will face PSG on the pitch, giving supporters a chance to see him play against the club that let him slip away.