Lille send Arsenal and Man City clear Ayyoub Bouaddi transfer message

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Lille have sent Manchester City and Arsenal a strong message over the future of midfield sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi – but they have denied they have set an asking price of €100 million for the player.

The Premier League giants are just two of the sides linked with a move for the 18-year-old, who shone for Morocco as they reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Real Madrid and PSG ave also been associated with a deal for the teenager.

While Lille have denied putting a €100m tag on the head of the player who has been with their academy since turning 13, president Olivier Letang has nevertheless delivered a bullish response to claims that the player will leave for the Premier League this summer.

Current ETV

Ayyoub Bouaddi

M, DM (C)

Lille

Ayyoub Bouaddi

M, DM (C)

Lille

€48.4M

ETV Range

€43.5M - €53.2M

View full profile

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

“What environment would be best for him to continue developing? We’ve seen each other since he returned from the World Cup. I can’t say what we discussed. Anything is still possible, but in my opinion, he should stay with us for another season. I’m convinced there’s a strong chance he’ll stay with us. And he would be very happy to do so.

“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.”

Anderson and Tonali set Bouaddi benchmark

While publicly Letang refuses to put a price on Bouaddi, in private the French source reports that he points to the examples of Elliot Anderson (€135m) and Sandro Tonali (€120m) as the type of figure he expects to receive for the Morocco star.

Lille’s belief is that their player is up to the standard of these Premier League-proven talents and has a higher margin of potential than both.

The possibility of selling him this summer and loaning him back for a campaign in which LOSC will play Champions League football is also one that the club have not ruled out.

Who is Ayyoub Bouaddi?

Bouaddi has been one of the hottest midfield prospects in French football since breaking into Lille’s first team.

A supremely intelligent young man in his studies, his appreciation of space is one of his strengths, but he is already physically imposing and capable of matching far more experienced opponents.

Even before his World Cup campaign, he had caught the eye at a European level with Lille, starring on his 17th birthday as the French club stunned Real Madrid in the Champions League and then catching the eye against Roma on his 18th birthday.

Bouaddi switched nationality from France to Morocco just before the 2026 World Cup, where he became arguably the breakthrough star of the competition.