Manchester City on Sunday agreed to sign Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a deal worth £86 million ($117 million).
City moved for Bouaddi after selling Rodri to Barcelona and Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah.
The 18-year-old rising star was one of the stand-out players at the 2026 World Cup, helping Morocco reach the quarter-finals before they were beaten by France.
He will become the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history, surpassing the £58.9 million Manchester United committed to paying Lille for Leny Yoro in 2024.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano wrote on X: “Ayyoub Bouaddi to Manchester City, here we go! Deal agreed club to club.
“Fee to reach €100m package with add-ons, as @FabriceHawkins reports. Green light from Lille to the sale.”
City have been in talks with Lille for several weeks and have finally reached an agreement for Bouaddi, who will travel to England to complete a medical before finalising his switch to the Etihad Stadium.
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Bouaddi will join England midfielder Elliot Anderson in City’s revamped midfield.
Maresca made central midfield a key area for new signings after replacing Pep Guardiola as manager at the end of last season.
City are also believed to retain an interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, but the Blues set a recent deadline for bids for the £120 million-rated Argentine that passed without a deal being done.
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