Manchester City move for Ayyoub Bouaddi amid Rodri exit

Manchester City are moving quickly in the market as they prepare for a new Premier League season and a likely reshaping of their midfield. With Rodri expected to join Barcelona and Tijjani Reijnders having already left for Al-Qadsiah, City are now being linked with Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi in a deal reportedly worth around €100m.

Midfield rebuild under Enzo Maresca

The changes come at a significant moment for City. Enzo Maresca has taken over from Pep Guardiola, ending an era after Guardiola’s decade in charge, and the new head coach is already facing major decisions in the centre of the pitch.

Rodri’s anticipated departure would leave a major gap in the squad, particularly with Reijnders also gone. City have already made one eye-catching midfield addition, bringing in Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a fee reported to be around €135m, but the club’s recruitment drive appears far from over.

Bouaddi, the Morocco international who has been playing for Lille, is now at the centre of that search. He had previously been linked with a move to City in the summer of 2027, but Rodri’s expected exit appears to have accelerated the club’s plans.

Bouaddi deal gathers pace

According to the source material, City are prepared to pay close to €100m for the 18-year-old. That would underline the scale of their belief in Bouaddi’s potential, even if the move would arrive at a relatively early stage in his career.

Maresca did not confirm the transfer after City’s heavy Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, but his comments suggested the club would welcome a swift resolution.

“He is still a Lille player. But as with every new signing, the sooner the better, because next week we start the Premier League. If he starts training with us as soon as possible, even better, because then he will understand our philosophy of play.”

Those remarks reflect the urgency around City’s summer business, with the opening league fixture now approaching.

How Bouaddi is viewed

Andres Orubia, an AS correspondent quoted by Marca, offered a measured assessment of Bouaddi’s recent development. He suggested the youngster endured an uneven season, while also stressing that his age and the speculation surrounding him may have affected his progress.

Orubia nevertheless spoke positively about the midfielder’s long-term outlook, describing him as a player with the potential to perform for a major club. He highlighted Bouaddi’s positional sense, his ability to control the tempo of a game and a style that may look simple but remains highly effective.

That profile helps explain why City appear willing to invest so heavily. Bouaddi may not yet be the finished product, but the club seem to view him as a player capable of fitting into Maresca’s ideas over time.

Season opener on the horizon

City do not have long to settle their squad. Their first match of the new season will be played at home against Bournemouth, with the game scheduled for Sunday, 23 August at 15:00.

That looming start adds context to Maresca’s comments. If Bouaddi is to become part of City’s next midfield cycle, the manager clearly wants the process to begin immediately.

• Rodri is expected to join Barcelona.
• Tijjani Reijnders has left for Al-Qadsiah.
• Elliot Anderson has joined from Nottingham Forest.
• Ayyoub Bouaddi is being linked with a move from Lille.