Manchester City have found their long-term successor to Rodri. On 26 August 2026, the club confirmed the signing of 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for up to €100m (€95m fixed plus €5m in add-ons), making him the most expensive teenager in English football history (Al Jazeera).
He has signed a contract to June 2031, with the option of a further year. “Manchester City are, for me, the best club in the world. It’s a dream to be here,” Bouaddi said.
Filling the Rodri-Shaped Hole
City’s midfield has been reshaped dramatically this summer. Rodri’s departure to Barcelona for an initial €76.5m, alongside the exits of club legend Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders, left new head coach Enzo Maresca needing a long-term option to anchor the middle of the park. Bouaddi was reportedly identified as exactly that: a technically gifted, defensively capable number six with the profile to grow into the role over several seasons, rather than an immediate short-term fix.
The move follows City’s earlier £116m deal for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, meaning Bouaddi becomes the club’s second major midfield addition of the summer as Maresca works to rebuild the engine room before the transfer deadline.
A Remarkable Rise from Lille’s Academy
Bouaddi’s career has moved fast for someone who only turned 18 this past October. He became Lille’s youngest-ever player at 16 years and three days when he made his debut in a Europa Conference League tie back in 2023, going on to make 57 senior appearances for the club and become a first-team regular well before most players his age would even be considered ready. His stock rose again this summer at the World Cup. Born in Senlis, France, he chose to represent Morocco over France. He made his debut in the opening 1-1 draw with Brazil, where he was widely praised for outshining their experienced midfield, and helped the Atlas Lions reach the quarter-finals, where they lost to France (Al Jazeera).
The deal represents a club-record sale for Lille, surpassing the €80m Arsenal paid for Nicolas Pépé in 2019, and reflects just how much interest Bouaddi had generated across Europe before City moved decisively to secure his signature.
Ayyoub Bouaddi Transfer: Key Facts
| From | Lille |
| To | Manchester City |
| Confirmed | 26 August 2026 |
| Fee | €95m + €5m add-ons |
| Contract | To June 2031 (+1 year option) |
| Age | 18 (born 2 October 2007) |
| Country | Morocco (born in France) |
| Records | Lille’s youngest-ever player; youngest to 50 Ligue 1 games; Lille’s record sale |
What This Means for Manchester City
Maresca now has a young midfielder built in a similar mould to the player he’s replacing, with the added benefit of a five-year runway to develop him into City’s long-term midfield anchor. It’s a significant financial commitment for an 18-year-old, but one that reflects both Bouaddi’s rapid rise and City’s determination to reassert their dominance in central midfield after a summer of turnover.
The deal is done, and Maresca now has two major midfield signings, Elliot Anderson and Bouaddi, to rebuild the engine room that Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders (who joined Al-Qadsiah) have left behind.
Sources: Al Jazeera, ESPN, Sky Sports.
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