Manchester City have signed 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in an £85.6m deal, subject to international clearance. The fee is reported as £81.4m upfront plus £4.2m in add-ons and Bouaddi has signed a five-year contract running to 2031; he will wear the No 32 shirt. Bouaddi made 96 appearances for Lille after debuting as a 16-year-old and started five of Morocco's six matches as they reached the World Cup quarter-finals. City moved for Bouaddi after selling Rodri to Barcelona for £65m and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m, and have already signed Elliot Anderson for a club-record £116m. Bouaddi is described as a deep-lying conductor who will complement Anderson's box-to-box and number six capabilities as Manchester City rebuild their midfield following multiple high-profile departures. The signing emphasizes City buying for potential rather than a finished product, adding immediate competition and heavy expectations in the middle of the park.
