Negotiations between Manchester City and Lille for Ayyoub Bouaddi are moving into the final stages, with a deal now considered very close.
City are on the verge of reaching an agreement with Lille for the highly-rated midfielder, while discussions with the player’s representatives are continuing as the Premier League champions look to complete the transfer.
Softfootball first reported in June 2026 that Manchester City had held initial discussions over a potential move for Bouaddi as the club continued to monitor elite young midfield prospects for the future.
The 18-year-old Lille midfielder has attracted significant attention with his performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where his composure, technical quality and maturity have stood out despite his age.
Manchester City are understood to be considering a long-term development strategy for Bouaddi, which could see him remain at Lille until the 2027/28 season before eventually making the move to the Etihad Stadium.
With club-to-club negotiations now approaching completion, City are increasingly confident of securing the highly-rated French midfielder.
