Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has declared that teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi is immediately ready for Premier League action, pointing to the player's tactical maturity as the primary justification for his record-breaking €95 million (£81.3 million) transfer from Lille. The 18-year-old Morocco international has committed to a five-year contract keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until June 2031. The initial fee, which includes a further €5 million in potential add-ons as reported by ESPN, makes Bouaddi the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history, surpassing the previous record set by Leny Yoro's move to Manchester United.
Midfield rebuilding and Maresca's tactical vision
Bouaddi's arrival forms the centrepiece of a major midfield restructuring under Maresca, following the high-profile departure of Rodri to Barcelona, alongside the exits of Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders. Speaking to Sky Sports, Maresca emphasised that the teenage deep-lying midfielder is fully prepared for first-team responsibilities. Bouaddi himself outlined his team-first philosophy, telling beIN SPORTS: "We know as a No.6 that you're not going to score 20 goals in a season... you have to balance the team and do everything for the team." To support this transition, City have paired Bouaddi with former Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, who joined in a parallel £116 million deal to provide a versatile, box-to-box presence.
Replacing experience with historic youth
Despite his youth, the Moroccan playmaker arrives in Manchester with considerable senior pedigree. Bouaddi made his professional debut for Lille in October 2023 and went on to make 96 appearances for the French side. He broke Eden Hazard's long-standing club record by becoming the youngest player to reach 50 Ligue 1 appearances, achieving the milestone at just 18 years and 115 days. That extensive early exposure, combined with starting appearances for Morocco at the World Cup, convinced the Premier League champions that the teenager possesses the temperament to handle the pressure of anchoring their midfield. With City seeking to assert their dominance domestically and in Europe, Bouaddi is expected to compete for an immediate starting role in Maresca's line-up.
