Manchester City’s signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille has rewritten the record books for teenage transfers in the Premier League.
The 18-year-old Morocco international has joined City in a deal worth up to £86 million, comprising a reported £81.3m initial fee and £4.3m in add-ons.
The move makes Bouaddi the most expensive teenager ever signed by a Premier League club, overtaking Manchester United’s Leny Yoro.
Here is the list of the most expensive teenagers signed by Premier League clubs:
1. Ayyoub Bouaddi — Lille to Manchester City — £86m
Bouaddi has taken the top spot after City agreed a deal worth up to £86m for the 18-year-old midfielder.
The Morocco international emerged as one of the brightest young midfielders in Europe after breaking into Lille’s first team at just 16. He made 30 Ligue 1 appearances last season and also featured prominently for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup.
2. Rasmus Højlund — Atalanta to Manchester United — £72m
Manchester United signed Danish striker Rasmus Højlund from Atalanta in 2023 for a reported £64m initial fee, with the deal potentially rising to around £72m.
Højlund was 20 when he moved to Old Trafford and arrived after a breakthrough season in Italy.
3. Romeo Lavia — Southampton to Chelsea — £53m
Chelsea beat Liverpool to the signing of Romeo Lavia in 2023, paying Southampton around £53m for the Belgian midfielder.
Lavia had impressed during Southampton’s relegation season and was regarded as one of the Premier League’s most promising young midfielders.
4. Leny Yoro — Lille to Manchester United — £52.2m
Before Bouaddi’s arrival, Yoro held the record for the most expensive teenage signing by a Premier League club.
Manchester United paid Lille £52.2m for the French centre-back in 2024, with the fee potentially rising further through add-ons.
5. Raheem Sterling — Liverpool to Manchester City — £49m
Sterling was 20 when Manchester City signed him from Liverpool in 2015 for an initial £44m, with the deal potentially reaching £49m.
The England international went on to become one of City’s most successful attackers, winning four Premier League titles, five League Cups and an FA Cup.
6. Anthony Martial — Monaco to Manchester United — £36m
Manchester United signed Martial from Monaco in 2015 when he was 19.
The initial fee was around £36m, with performance-related clauses capable of taking the overall package significantly higher.
Martial scored on his debut against Liverpool and enjoyed several productive spells at Old Trafford.
7. Luke Shaw — Southampton to Manchester United — £31.5m
Shaw was only 18 when United signed him from Southampton in 2014 for around £27m, with the deal potentially rising to £31.5m.
He had already established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading young full-backs before making the move.
8. Gabriel Jesus — Palmeiras to Manchester City — £27m
Manchester City agreed a deal worth around £27m for Gabriel Jesus in 2016, when the Brazilian forward was 19.
He arrived in England after establishing himself as one of Brazil’s brightest young attacking talents.
9. Fabio Silva — Porto to Wolverhampton Wanderers — £35m
Wolves paid Porto around £35m for Silva in 2020, making the 18-year-old one of the most expensive teenagers in Premier League history.
The Portuguese forward was viewed as a major prospect when Wolves made the investment.
10. Joe Cole — West Ham to Chelsea — £6.6m
Chelsea signed Cole from West Ham in 2003 when he was 21, meaning he does not technically qualify as a teenager. For an accurate teenage-only list, he should therefore be excluded.
Vanguard News
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