Manchester City don finally get dia target. Dem don agree deal with Lille for Ayyoub Bouaddi, di 18-year-old Morocco midfielder. Di transfer na big one—worth up to £86 million (€100 million), with fixed fee of £81.3 million plus £4.3 million for add-ons. E go make am di most expensive teenage signing for Premier League history, wey e go pass di £58.9 million wey Manchester United pay for Leny Yoro for 2024.
Bouaddi don be one hot property since im breakout at di World Cup. E start five of Morocco’s six matches as dem reach quarter-finals. E also don show for Champions League, wey e help Lille beat Real Madrid on im 17th birthday for Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Dis one na star wey dey shine bright.
Why City need am? Di club don lose plenty midfielders this summer. Rodri don go Barcelona, Bernardo Silva don comot, and Tijjani Reijnders don join Al-Qadsiah for Saudi Arabia. So dem don prioritise central midfield. Dem already add Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, and now Bouaddi go join am. Di two of dem fit play different roles for midfield, wey go give coach Enzo Maresca plenty tori.
Lille no easy crack for dis one. Dem hold out for di fee dem want, and e don pay off. Bouaddi na di most expensive sale for Lille history. E break Eden Hazard record by reaching 50 Ligue 1 appearances at just 18. E don play 88 times for Lille since im debut for October 2023—three days after im 16th birthday. All dis show say na proper talent.
City still dey look for more midfielders. Dem dey interested for Chelsea Enzo Fernandez and Roma Manu Kone. Newcastle target Nico Gonzalez get question mark over im future. So Bouaddi arrival no go be di last move. As e dey, City don get one key piece for dia rebuild.
