Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi has become the most expensive teenager in Premier League history after joining Manchester City from Lille in a five-year deal the French club said Wednesday was worth 100 million euros (£85.6 million, $117 million).
The fee for Bouaddi surpasses Manchester United’s £58.9 million deal for Leny Yoro, also signed from Lille, in 2024.
City moved for Bouaddi after selling Spain’s World Cup-winning captain Rodri to Barcelona and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah, with Nico Gonzalez also poised to leave the Etihad.
The 18-year-old rising star was one of the standout players at the recent World Cup, helping Morocco reach the quarter-finals before they were beaten by France.
Bouaddi will join England’s Elliot Anderson, whose £116 million ($154 million) move to City from Nottingham Forest was announced in June during the World Cup, in a revamped midfield.
He made 96 appearances for Lille after breaking into their first team at the age of 16.
“This is a very special day for me and my family,” Bouaddi told City’s website.
“Manchester City are, for me, the best club in the world.
“It’s a dream to be here and be able to call myself a City player. I have spent most of my life working hard to become the best player I can be and reach the top of the game.
“I’ve watched City for many years, and I love their style of play. City always try and play quality football and they have shown they are winners – this club feels like it’s built to win.”
He added: “The squad is world class and Enzo (Maresca) is a top manager. I have plenty of improving to do, I am only 18. I am happy with the progress I have made so far, but I also know I can improve so much. This is undoubtedly the best place for me to do that.
“This club demands trophies and I will give everything to make sure we are challenging for every title.”
Maresca made central midfield a key area for new signings after replacing Pep Guardiola as City manager at the end of last season.
“We have watched him very, very closely and throughout that process we have become increasingly convinced he is a huge talent who will thrive at City,” Hugo Viana, the club’s director of football, said of Bouaddi.
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is also understood to remain of interest to City, but the Blues set a recent deadline for bids for the £120 million-rated Argentine that passed without a deal being done.
City were thrashed 3-0 by Arsenal in the Community Shield, but they started their Premier League season with a 2-1 win at home to Bournemouth on Sunday.
AFP
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