Manchester City pursue £85m Bouaddi while retaining Fernandez interest

Manchester City are in advanced negotiations with Lille over Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, whose valuation is understood to be €100 million (£85.6m). The Premier League club want to complete the 18-year-old’s transfer this week after agreeing to sell Rodri to Barcelona.

City have also maintained their interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. Chelsea expect the Argentina international to remain at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the season after a club deadline for bids passed, but City manager Enzo Maresca continues to regard him as a target before the 1 September transfer deadline.

A deal for Bouaddi would give City another young midfield option alongside Elliot Anderson, who joined from Nottingham Forest. Bouaddi operates mainly as a deep-lying midfielder, while Anderson can play as a number six or in a box-to-box role. Signing both players would leave City with three expensive midfield additions, including Anderson.

Bouaddi’s rise has accelerated since he made his Lille debut in October 2023, only days after turning 16. He has now made 88 appearances for the French club and helped them finish third in Ligue 1 last season. He also became Lille’s youngest player to reach 50 Ligue 1 appearances, surpassing a record previously held by Eden Hazard.

The teenager gained further attention during the summer World Cup, starting five of Morocco’s six matches as they reached the quarter-finals. His reputation had already grown after Lille defeated Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2024, a match that took place on Bouaddi’s 17th birthday. He was also celebrated by Lille supporters after that performance.

City’s midfield planning is being shaped by Rodri’s impending move to Barcelona. The Spain captain is expected to sign a four-year contract in a £65m transfer, ending a seven-season City career in which he made 298 appearances and won multiple trophies. Rodri joined from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club-record £62.8m, and his return to top form at the World Cup followed a campaign affected by a serious knee injury and a hamstring problem.