Manchester City have announced the signing of Moroccan Ayoub Bouaddi from French side Lille.
Ayoub Bouaddi
Club: Lille
Bouaddi signed a five-year contract with Manchester City.
The transfer fee is reported to be €100 million, including add-ons.
Bouaddi becomes the second Moroccan player in Manchester City's history, following current Real Madrid player Brahim Diaz.
Speaking on the club's website, Bouaddi said: "This is a very special day for me and my family."
He continued: "Manchester City is the best team in the world for me, and being here and being able to call myself a Manchester City player is a dream. I have spent most of my life working to be the best player and reach the top of the game."
He added: "I have watched Manchester City for several years and love the club's way of playing. They have proven to be a winning team; this club was built to win."
He further stated: "This is a great team, and Enzo Fernandez is a great manager. I am looking forward to playing at the Etihad Stadium in front of the fans."
He concluded: "I have a lot of room for development. I am only 18 years old and am happy with the progress I have made so far. This club demands titles, and I will give everything to ensure we compete for every trophy."
The 18-year-old Bouaddi stole the spotlight during the 2026 World Cup, playing a key role in Morocco's qualification for the quarter-finals and starting five matches.
The player had already entered Lille's history in 2023 when he became the youngest player to feature in an official match for the first team at the age of 16. He later broke the record previously held by Eden Hazard as the youngest player to reach 50 appearances in the French league for the club.
The Moroccan international, who previously represented France's youth teams, has made 96 appearances for Lille across all competitions, providing four assists. He received nine yellow cards and two red cards during the 2025-2026 season.
