Ayyoub Bouaddi’s transfer situation has taken a significant step forward. Manchester City have reportedly reached an agreement in principle with the young Lille midfielder on a contract running until 2031. The Premier League club must now negotiate a transfer fee with Lille and hopes to move quickly to beat two other major European clubs also interested in the 18-year-old.
Manchester City do not view Bouaddi as a long-term project. According to Nicolò Schira, the agreement with the Lille midfielder is already in place. The English champions reportedly plan to integrate him directly into Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad rather than sending him back on loan to Lille, believing he is already capable of contributing to the senior team.
Why Paris Saint-Germain Stepped Away
Paris Saint-Germain, despite being regularly linked with Bouaddi, ultimately decided not to pursue the deal. The French champions admired his technical quality, composure under pressure, and overall potential, but their interest never developed into a formal bid. One of the main reasons was Lille’s reported asking price of around €100 million, a valuation PSG considered excessive for a player who would not be guaranteed an immediate starting role.
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PSG also believe central midfield is not a priority this summer. Luis Enrique already has Vitinha, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Senny Mayulu at his disposal, while the recent contract extensions of Ruiz and Mayulu have further strengthened the club’s confidence in its current options. Instead of making another major investment in midfield, PSG intend to focus their budget on reinforcing other key areas, such as defense, full-back depth, and attacking positions. As a result, the club’s decision was driven by financial priorities and squad planning rather than any doubts about Bouaddi’s talent, leaving Manchester City as the clear favorites to complete the transfer.
