Manchester City have wrapped up the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a deal worth up to £86m, making the 18-year-old Morocco midfielder the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history.

City are paying a fixed fee of £81.3m, with a further £4.3m available in add-ons. The move surpasses the £58.9m Manchester United paid Lille for Leny Yoro in 2024, setting a new benchmark for teenage transfers in English football.

Bouaddi was one of the standout performers at this summer's FIFA World Cup 2026 with Morocco, and Lille ultimately secured the fee they had been seeking throughout negotiations.

Rebuilding the engine room

The arrival of Bouaddi forms a key part of City's effort to reshape their midfield following the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Tijjani Reijnders. Manager Enzo Maresca now has a high-profile addition around whom to build his squad.