Ayyoub Bouaddi and his representatives have reached an agreement on personal terms with Manchester City, bringing the highly-rated midfielder closer to a move to the Etihad Stadium.
City are now expected to focus on finalising an agreement with Lille, with negotiations already at an advanced stage. Bouaddi’s preference is to join Manchester City immediately rather than remain at Lille until 2027.
Softfootball reported back in June 2026 that Manchester City had held initial discussions over a potential move for the 18-year-old as the club continued monitoring elite young midfield prospects.
The Lille midfielder has attracted significant attention with his performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, impressing with his composure, technical ability and maturity despite his age.
Manchester City had previously considered a long-term strategy that could have seen Bouaddi remain at Lille until the 2027/28 season before making the full transition to England.
However, with personal terms now agreed and Bouaddi pushing to make the move this summer, City are working to secure the final agreement with Lille and complete the transfer.
