Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-Year-Old Midfielder Manchester City Wants for 100 Million Euros

An 18-year-old who didn't even suit up for the opening matchday of the league season is somehow the most talked about story in the European transfer market. That's what's happening with Ayyoub Bouaddi, the Lille midfielder left out of the squad for the match against Angers while in France and England it's already treated as a done deal that he's headed to Manchester City.

According to reports from the newspaper L'Equipe and the radio station RMC, the agreement is said to be sealed for a jaw dropping figure: 100 million euros (about $117 million) and a five year contract for a player who hasn't even reached the age of majority in several countries. Neither Lille nor City have made an official statement, which is typical when a deal of this size is still being worked out behind closed doors.

What stands out is that City is pursuing this signing with a very specific need in mind: finding someone to fill the void left by Rodri, the Ballon d'Or winner who departed for Barcelona after being a key piece in Spain's World Cup title. Replacing a player of that caliber is no easy task, and the fact that Pep Guardiola and his staff have set their sights on a teenager says a lot about what they see in him.

A Kid Who Was Already Making Waves

Bouaddi is no unknown. He made a name for himself at the last World Cup wearing the colors of Morocco, where he surprised everyone with his refined touch, a tactical awareness rare for his age and a maturity that didn't match his ID card. In Lille, in fact, he was already being compared to none other than Eden Hazard, and was being called the best midfielder to come through the club since the Belgian left for Chelsea to become one of the biggest stars in the Premier League.

His story with the first team began early. He joined Lille's academy in 2021, and just three days after turning 16 he made his debut in European competition, in a Conference League match against KI Klaksvík. That made him the youngest player ever to appear in a continental tournament, a fact that alone explains why so many big clubs have had him on their radar for a while.

Lille, for its part, knows a thing or two about selling young talent at a premium. It did so with Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe, sold to Arsenal in 2019 for 80 million euros, and with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who left for Napoli a year later for a similar amount. If the deal with City goes through on these terms, Bouaddi would surpass both and become the most expensive sale in the French club's recent history.

It remains to be seen whether the figure reported by French media holds up or whether the deal cools off in the coming weeks. What's already clear is that the market has zeroed in on a player who's still young enough to play in youth categories and yet is already being talked about as the heir to a Ballon d'Or winner.