Manchester City has done it again. For the second time this summer, the club is swooping in on a midfielder Manchester United wanted and apparently leaving them empty-handed.
The latest name is Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 19-year-old Lille midfielder who turned heads at the World Cup for Morocco. Multiple reports, including from Ben Jacobs and the Daily Mail, had linked him to United as a third midfield addition this window. But according to TEAMtalk’s Graeme Bailey, City has made serious progress on both the club side and the player side of the deal.
Bailey said discussions with Lille and Bouaddi’s representatives have accelerated fast. City is now increasingly confident they’ll land one of the most chased young players in world football. United was in the group of clubs trying to get a deal done, but the signs now point to Bouaddi lining up next to Elliot Anderson and Rodri at the Etihad next season.
This is the same dynamic that played out earlier this summer with Anderson. United had him as their top central midfield target. But when Nottingham Forest wanted well over £100 million, United got cold feet. City didn’t. They put £116 million on the table, making Anderson the most expensive midfielder ever. That British transfer record has since been topped by Morgan Rogers going to Chelsea for £117 million, but still. City got their guy.
Lille wants around £85 million
For Bouaddi, Lille has held firm at roughly €100 million or £85 million. TEAMtalk understands City is close to meeting that. Only minor details remain before the move gets agreed. If it goes through at that price, Bouaddi becomes the most expensive teenage midfielder in history. For context, Chelsea paid £53 million for Romeo Lavia in 2023.
Lille originally hoped whichever club bought Bouaddi would loan him back for the 2026-27 season. That’s not happening. City manager Enzo Maresca wants to work with him right away, so the plan is to integrate him from day one. No loan.
Bailey also noted that City’s brass sees Bouaddi and Anderson as the long-term pairing in central midfield. Rodri is still one of the best in the world, obviously. But his future is increasingly uncertain. He’s got one season left on his contract and Real Madrid is lurking.
United, meanwhile, has already added Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans this window. Solid moves. Not spectacular. They wanted a third midfielder, and Bouaddi was that guy. Now they’re probably back to the drawing board, watching City scoop up another one.
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