18‑year‑old Moroccan midfielder commits to Manchester City until 2031

Manchester City have secured the services of 18‑year‑old Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaadi, signing him from Lille on a contract that runs until 2031. The deal marks the club’s sixth addition to the summer roster, joining the likes of Elliot Anderson and Jeremy Doku.

During his spell at Lille, Bouaadi amassed 96 league caps and represented Morocco in eight international fixtures. He debuted for Lille’s senior side just three days after his 16th birthday in a UEFA Conference League match and quickly became a mainstay in the midfield over the following two seasons.

Bouaadi, who earlier represented France at youth level, elected to play for Morocco and impressed on the world stage during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. In a personal statement, he called City "the best club in the world" and said wearing the sky‑blue shirt has always been a childhood dream.

City’s football director Hugo Viana praised Bouaadi’s football intelligence, noting that the teenager already exhibits the qualities of a top‑level midfielder. Viana assured that the club will spare no effort to nurture his talent, with the expectation that Bouaadi could feature in the upcoming Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.