Why Arsenal’s chase for €45m Ayyoub Bouaddi is just beginning

Robin Bairner

Updated: 6 Dec 2025 17:43 GMT
4 min read

Mikel Arteta, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Arsenal — © IMAGO

Arsenal will have to put their hopes of signing Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille on hold for January after the 18-year-old signed a new contract with the Ligue 1 side – but they still have hope of a summer deal.

Article continues under the video

The Gunners were one of a number of major clubs looking at snapping up the talented youngster, who has already made 72 senior appearances for Bruno Genesio’s side.

Reports in France suggested that Mikel Arteta wanted to sign Bouaddi in a €45 million January move, but that ambition will have to be postponed until at least the summer.

Current ETV

Ayyoub Bouaddi

M, DM (C)

Lille

Ayyoub Bouaddi

M, DM (C)

Lille

ETV Range

€28.2M - €34.5M

The Gunners were said to be making a “strong push” in an area that they have been looking to add to, despite signing Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi to their ranks over the course of the summer.

Sporting director Andrea Berta is said to have made Arsenal’s interest in the player clear and had been eager to make a quick deal in order to fend off competition from the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and PSG.

Lille have confirmed that Bouaddi has signed a new contract with the club until 2029, but this step was taken largely to improve their negotiating position with regards a new contract, RMC reports.

The Ligue 1 side accept that the teenager is still liable to leave the club in the summer of 2026, but they are now hopeful of driving his transfer value above €50m.

Bouaddi’s current Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) stands at €31.4m, but this does not take into account his extension, which will drive the figure up.

Ayyoub Bouaddi: Why is he so highly rated?

Primarily a ball-winning midfield player, Bouaddi is rated as Ligue 1’s third-biggest prospect, according to FootballTransfers’ unique algorithm. Only PSG pair Warren Zaire-Emery and Desire Doue, who won the Golden Boy award, stand above him.

Lille president Olivier Letang has outlined the qualities that make him such a massive prospect at the age of 18.

Ligue 1's five biggest talents

Rank	Name	Club	Potential
1	Warren Zaire-Emery	PSG	94.7
2	Desire Doue	PSG	90.0
3	Ayyoub Bouaddi	Lille	86.6
4	Matias Fernandez-Pardo	Lille	85.6
5	Malick Fofana	Lyon	85.3

“Ayyoub is a crucial player in our squad. Through his values and talent, he embodies the excellence of LOSC's youth academy, which shapes not only footballers but also men,” Letang said.

“He possesses exceptional potential and remarkable maturity for his age. But that's not enough to become a great champion. It also requires hard work, determination, humility, mental fortitude, and a certain spirit. And in these areas as well, Ayyoub offers all the qualities that lead me to believe he is, and will continue to be, a top-level footballer.”

Bouaddi has already shone on some of football’s biggest stages, notably excelling against Real Madrid on his 17th birthday when playing with Lille in the Champions League.

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. Download here:

•Google Play

•App Store