Man City line up €90m move for wonderkid after announcing Anderson signing

24 Jul 2026 07:57 BST | 4 min read

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

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After signing Elliot Anderson for a club-record fee, Man City are going back into the transfer market for Ayyoub Bouaddi, with Enzo Maresca’s side ready to offer Lille €90 million for the impressive young talent.

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City spent £116 million (€135m) to take Anderson from Forest in a club-record move that was confirmed on Thursday, but they have more typically focused their spending on younger talent this summer, with Mathys Detourbet and Jeremy Monga both arriving as teenagers from Troyes and Leicester respectively.

In Bouaddi, 18, City are targeting a third teen, though in his case he is ready to make an immediate impression on the first-team squad.

Current ETV

Ayyoub Bouaddi

M, DM (C)

Lille

Ayyoub Bouaddi

M, DM (C)

Lille

ETV Range

€43.5M - €53.2M

€90m Bouaddi bid prepared

Bouaddi has emerged as one of the most coveted young central midfielders in the world over the past couple of years, a status that he underscored at the World Cup, where he shone for Morocco.

Transfer insider Nicolo Schira has reported that after signing Anderson, Maresca’s side have turned their thoughts towards the Lille player.

“Manchester City are ready to offer €90m to Lille to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi,” he reports on X.

“Man City have already agreed personal terms for a contract until 2031 with the Moroccan player as revealed in the last days.”

That level of bid is likely to be in the region that LOSC want for their academy graduate.

President Olivier Letang has previously gone public to deny the club has put a €100m price tag on the player’s head.

“I never discussed figures,” the Lille president told the media in quotes relayed by L’Equipe last week. “But very few clubs today can afford a player of Ayyoub’s quality, who is only 18.

“Today, I haven't had any discussions because I refused any talks with clubs that are able to pay the transfer fee during the World Cup. What I'm telling everyone is that there's no rush. We're very calm, like Ayyoub. We'll reassess based on what happens in the coming weeks. And you're right, we have to be prepared for all eventualities. If he were to leave, we have to be ready.”

City spending big again

Such a move would thrust City into the spotlight once again for their big spending. Such a deal would take their total outlay on transfers to just short of €270m this summer – close to last season’s spend of €301m.

Only Chelsea and Tottenham have spent more money this summer than City, suggesting that the Manchester club are confident that the forthcoming ruling against their alleged financial breaches will fall in their favour.