Ayyoub Bouaddi has joined Manchester City from Lille in a deal worth up to $117m, making him the most expensive Moroccan footballer ever. City will pay $111m upfront, with another $6m available in performance bonuses. The 18-year-old midfielder has signed a contract until June 2031, with an option to extend it for another year. The transfer breaks Achraf Hakimi’s previous record. Hakimi joined Paris Saint-Germain from Inter Milan for $79m in 2021.
Bouaddi also becomes the most expensive teenage signing in Premier League history. His move is worth more than Leny Yoro’s $69m transfer from Lille to Manchester United in 2024.
“This is a very special day for me and my family. Manchester City are, for me, the best club in the world. It’s a dream to be here and be able to call myself a City player.”
“I have spent most of my life working hard to become the best player I can be and reach the top of the game. I’ve watched City for many years, and I love their style of play. City always try to play quality football and they have shown they are winners. This club feels like it’s built to win.”
Bouaddi made his professional debut for Lille at 16. He played 96 senior games for the French club before moving to England.
He can play as a defensive midfielder or in central midfield.
“We have watched him very, very closely and throughout that process we have become increasingly convinced he is a huge talent who will thrive at City,” Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana said.
Bouaddi was also part of the Morocco team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
“The squad is world class and Enzo is a top manager. I have plenty of improving to do, I am only 18. I am happy with the progress I have made so far, but I also know I can improve so much. This is undoubtedly the best place for me to do that.”
Bouaddi now tops the list of the most expensive Moroccan players.
- Ayyoub Bouaddi — Lille to Manchester City: $117m
- Achraf Hakimi — Inter Milan to Paris Saint-Germain: $79m
- Ismael Saibari — PSV Eindhoven to Bayern Munich: $64m
- Achraf Hakimi — Real Madrid to Inter Milan: $50m
- Hakim Ziyech — Ajax to Chelsea: $47m
Bouaddi is also the second-most expensive African player ever. Ivorian winger Yan Diomande holds the record after joining Real Madrid from RB Leipzig for $154m.
Only Diomande and Bouaddi have reached the $100m mark in African football transfers.
Three Moroccan players are now among the 10 most expensive African transfers: Bouaddi, Hakimi and Ismael Saibari.
How much will Bouaddi earn?
Bouaddi will earn a basic $47,000 a week at Manchester City, or about $2.4m a year, according to SalaryLeaks.
Performance bonuses could add another $1.8m each year, taking his potential annual earnings to about $4.2m.
His contract also includes automatic salary increases in his second and third seasons. The increases depend on how many first-team matches he plays.
His basic salary is almost three times what he earned at Lille during the 2025-26 season.
The move also makes Bouaddi the most expensive Arab footballer ever. He moves ahead of Egypt’s Omar Marmoush, who joined Manchester City from Eintracht Frankfurt for $93m in 2025.
Six Moroccan players feature in the top 10 most expensive Arab transfers, including Bouaddi, Hakimi, Saibari, Hakim Ziyech and Nayef Aguerd.
