Manchester City have completed the signing of 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a record-breaking transfer [1, 2, 3].
The deal represents a significant investment in youth, marking the most expensive teenage signing in the history of the Premier League [2, 4].
The total transfer fee is £86 million [1, 2]. This figure consists of a fixed fee of £81.3 million and an additional £4.3 million in add-ons [2]. Other reports list the maximum fee as €100 million [3] or $117 million [5].
Bouaddi joins the English club from the French side Lille on a contract spanning five years [3]. The move is intended to strengthen the City squad with one of the most highly rated young talents in European football [2, 4].
The 18-year-old [2] midfielder has attracted widespread attention for his performance in France. By securing the player now, Manchester City avoids a potential bidding war with other elite European clubs, a strategy the club has used frequently to acquire emerging talent.
While the financial details vary slightly across reports, the consensus remains that the deal breaks previous spending records for a player of Bouaddi's age [2, 4]. The transition from Lille to Manchester marks a major step in the player's career as he enters one of the most competitive leagues in the world.
“The most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history.”
This transfer signals Manchester City's commitment to aggressive youth recruitment to maintain long-term squad dominance. By paying a record fee for an 18-year-old, the club is betting that Bouaddi's ceiling is high enough to justify a premium that exceeds typical developmental investments, while simultaneously denying rivals access to a top Moroccan prospect.
