Fabrizio Romano reveals Manchester City's plan to integrate Ayyoub Bouaddi into first team
By OnzeActu · · 2 min read
According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City want to formalize the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi this summer while leaving him for an additional season at Lille on loan. The 18-year-old Moroccan should join Enzo Maresca's professional squad at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2027, with Lille preferring to see the player leave for the Premier League rather than a French rival like PSG.
Manchester City is actively working to finalize the acquisition of Moroccan-born midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who currently plays for Lille. According to information from Fabrizio Romano, the English club wants to sign the 18-year-old this summer, but plans to leave him on loan to Lille for the 2026-2027 season.
Spotted thanks to his remarkable performances during the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup within the Moroccan selection, Bouaddi arouses the interest of several major European clubs. Manchester City had already positioned themselves on the player, with sporting director Hugo Viana keen to strengthen the midfield following the expected arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
The Lille club favors Bouaddi's departure to the Premier League rather than to a Ligue 1 competitor, such as Paris Saint-Germain, which facilitates the prospect of an arrival at Manchester City.
According to Romano, the Citizens' plan is clear: finalize the transfer this summer, then loan the young player for an additional season with the Mastiffs. This strategy would allow Bouaddi to continue his progress in a familiar setting before joining the Manchester City professional group, led by incoming coach Enzo Maresca, from the 2027-2028 season.
This approach reflects the long-term recruitment policy put in place by Hugo Viana, which favors gradual development rather than rushed integration into the Premier League. This also prevents City from losing priority over Bouaddi against competitors like Real Madrid or PSG.
This plan means that Bouaddi will not immediately strengthen Maresca's squad for next season, but represents a strategic vision for the club's medium-term future.
At the same time, Manchester City continues to explore other avenues to strengthen its midfield in order to support Elliot Anderson, including the idea of reuniting the Scot with his former teammate at Newcastle, Sandro Tonali.
The question of whether Bouaddi will agree to commit now to an effective transfer in a year remains a key element in this issue which promises to be among the most followed of the summer transfer window.