TransferDaily Mail FootballUnverified source· 27 Aug 2026
Man City's £85.7m gem: The making of Ayyoub Bouaddi
From cycling up Creil's hills to debating at the Elysee Palace, Bouaddi is no ordinary teenager.
A. Bouaddi
player
Player
Ayyoub Bouaddi
Position
Midfielder
From
Lille
To
Manchester City
Fee
£85.7 million
What happened. Manchester City signed 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for £85.7 million, making him the most expensive French club export.
- Bouaddi played for France at all age levels but switched to Morocco.
- He excelled academically, pursuing a maths degree and debating at the Elysee Palace.
- His father, a Moroccan-born bank executive, influenced his athletic upbringing.
“It's part of how I was raised and it keeps my mind sharp.”
— Ayyoub Bouaddi
Bouaddi will take up a deep-lying midfield role at City, with comparisons to Rodri.
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