Manchester City Target Ayyoub Bouaddi After World Cup Success

Manchester City are pushing ahead with a deal for Lille sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the French club’s new head coach Davide Ancelotti confirming that negotiations are underway for the 18-year-old midfielder.

Bouaddi exploded onto the global stage at this summer’s World Cup, starting in all but one of Morocco’s matches as they surged to the quarter-finals. Just weeks earlier, he had only just broken into the national team, capping a remarkable rise that began with a standout season in Ligue 1.

With Lille, Bouaddi helped drive the club to a third-place finish in France’s top flight, securing a Champions League return and forcing Europe’s elite to take notice. That form, followed by his composure on the biggest international stage, has turned him into one of the most coveted young midfielders on the market.

Now City are closing in.

Ancelotti confirms talks – but refuses to concede

Speaking to Ouest France, Davide Ancelotti did not attempt to play down the situation.

“Of course, there are negotiations. Many clubs are interested in him,” he admitted, acknowledging that Lille are fielding serious offers, with City believed to be leading the chase.

A fee of around €100m (£85.5m) has been floated as the figure that could seal Bouaddi’s departure. It is the kind of number that instantly narrows the field of suitors – and places a club of City’s financial power firmly at the front of the queue.

Yet Ancelotti is not ready to write Bouaddi out of his plans.

“He is a very, very good player and I hope he will stay with us,” he said. “The season starts next week and I consider him a player at my disposal.”

That last line matters. Lille’s coach is keeping the door open to a blockbuster sale, but he is also sending a clear message: until the paperwork is signed, Bouaddi remains his player.

Limited minutes spark transfer questions

The noise around the teenager only grew louder on Saturday.

Bouaddi played just 45 minutes in Lille’s friendly against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, a curtailed outing that immediately drew attention from the French media. With speculation swirling around a possible move, the decision to withdraw him at half-time looked, to many, like a protective measure.

Ancelotti pushed back on that interpretation.

“He was physically ready to play and he did play 45 minutes – but that’s only because I have to manage his playing time,” he explained, framing the decision as squad management rather than transfer caution.

Still, in a summer dominated by rumours and record fees, every substitution and every team sheet is being read between the lines. When a player valued at €100m plays only a half days before the season starts, questions are inevitable.

Lille brace for opener as City circle

Lille begin their Ligue 1 campaign with a trip to Angers on Sunday afternoon, and for now Bouaddi is still expected to be part of Ancelotti’s squad. The coach has been clear: until a deal is done, he intends to use the player.

City, though, are rarely tentative once they identify a target. An 18-year-old midfielder who has already delivered in Ligue 1 and at a World Cup fits perfectly into their long-term planning.

If the negotiations reach that €100m threshold, Lille may soon have to decide: hold on to their new star for another season, or cash in at the peak of his value and reshape the squad.

The season kicks off in a week. Bouaddi’s future might be decided even sooner.