Manchester City narrow €10m gap in race for Lille's Bouaddi

Manchester City have agreed five‑year contract terms with 18‑year‑old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, securing personal terms until 2031, while a fee gap of roughly €10 million remains as talks with Lille enter their final stages; Lille value him at about €100 million and City target a €90 million fee plus bonuses.

Bouaddi impressed during a breakthrough Ligue 1 season with Lille and earned further attention with an eye‑catching performance for Morocco at the FIFA World Cup in North America. At 18, he is already regarded as one of Europe’s most coveted young midfielders. This profile matches Manchester City’s desire to inject fresh talent into their midfield.

Negotiations have been described as particularly intense, with both sides working to find common ground after personal terms were settled. Lille have set a valuation around €100 million, while Manchester City aim for a fixed fee near €90 million plus performance bonuses. The remaining €10 million difference is now the sole obstacle before a final agreement.

The pursuit has become a defining storyline of the summer window, prompting CEO Ferran Soriano to meet Lille president Olivier Létang in June. The meeting echoed the executive intervention that secured Elliot Anderson’s record signing, underscoring City’s determination to acquire the midfielder.

New manager Enzo Maresca has identified rebuilding the central midfield as his top priority, and Bouaddi would join Elliot Anderson as the second major midfield addition of the season. Maresca’s pre‑season squad is already in Hong Kong and Seoul ahead of the FA Community Shield against Arsenal.

If the deal closes, Manchester City will send a clear signal of ambition in the post‑Guardiola era, while Lille would secure a substantial fee in the €90‑100 million range. Both clubs appear confident the remaining issues can be resolved in the next days.