Remarkable: Manchester City is close to signing Rodri's replacement, with only one step remaining.
On 10 Aug 2026 GMT+7, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Manchester City, the financially strong Premier League club, is close to signing Ayoub Bouaddi, a standout Moroccan international midfielder, ahead of the new season.
Fabrizio Romano stated, "Ayoub Bouaddi and his representatives have reached an agreement on personal terms with Manchester City. The next step is for City to finalize the deal with Lille, and negotiations have progressed significantly, as Bouaddi wants to join City immediately rather than wait until 2027."
Eighteen-year-old Ayoub Bouaddi has quickly become a player to watch after an impressive 2025-26 season as a key starter for Lille, playing 35 matches plus 5 as a substitute, showcasing his game management from deep midfield and physical strength beyond his years.
Recently, Bouaddi shone at the 2026 World Cup, starting in five matches and helping Morocco reach the quarter-finals, which further increased his market value.
Latest reports reveal that negotiations between the two clubs have advanced greatly over the past week. Although Lille initially set his price at about 100 million euros (86 million pounds), Manchester City is said to have negotiated it down to an estimated 70-80 million euros (60-70 million pounds), which is expected to be sufficient.
Pursuing Ayoub Bouaddi signals a youth renewal for Manchester City, as Rodri—the Spanish midfielder and 2026 World Cup winner—is likely to transfer to Barcelona soon. Previously, City also signed midfielder Elliott Anderson from Nottingham Forest for 116 million pounds.
