[REVISION HISTORY]

Ayyoub Bouaddi debuts for Manchester City

Updated 22 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-09 18:55 UTC → 2026-09-12 16:51 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Manchester City has completed the transfer of 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille OSC for ~~£86~~ a reported fee between £85 million and €100 million. The signing is intended to address the midfield void left by Rodri’s departure to Barcelona. Bouaddi, who recently switched international allegiance from France to Morocco, has signed a five-year contract with the club. This acquisition ~~follows earlier reports of a potential €100 million deal. The move~~ is part of a broader midfield reconstruction for Manchester City, which also includes summer signing Elliot Anderson. Alongside the transfer, manager Enzo Maresca has introduced a new training method involving loud music during practice sessions to improve player happiness and performance. Bouaddi recently drew significant attention following his first Champions League start in a 2-0 victory against FC Porto. ~~During~~ Playing 75 minutes, the ~~match, he~~ teenager delivered a composed performance, completing 54 of 55 passes with a 98.2% accuracy rate. Teammate Erling Haaland praised the young Moroccan, calling him a ‘gem’, while manager Enzo Maresca commended his maturity and calm ~~demeanor.~~ demeanor, noting his ability to integrate into the team's play. While former player Pat Nevin described the acquisition as an ‘absolute no-brainer’ due to his technical quality, some analysts have questioned the high transfer cost given the potential competition for minutes from other high-profile signings, such as Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson.

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