Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi featuring in the 2026-27 Manchester City home kit
Manchester City are linked with Ayyoub Bouaddi.Imago

Man City fans lose their minds over Ayyoub Bouaddi transfer hint

Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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Manchester City appear to have joined the vast number of clubs interested in Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi this summer.

Despite a standout season in Ligue 1, the 18-year-old appears to have gone under the radar across the rest of Europe, until now, apparently.

He made his World Cup debut with Morocco, forming a midfield partnership with Roma's Neil El Aynaoui against Brazil, and finishing the game as one of the best players on the pitch.

Alarm bells were instantly set off, especially in the Premier League, with a whole host of giants now lining up to seal his signature ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

All signs are pointing towards a big-money move for the Morocco international, but it is just a question about where he ends up this summer.

And with his next move being detailed amid interest from the likes of Arsenal, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, widly-known journalist Matteo Moretto has added fuel to the fire.

Man City fans blown away by Ayyoub Bouaddi hint

The Citizens have no yet been strongly linked with a move for the midfielder, but with Moretto simply replying, 'Manchester City?', supporters are in meltdown on social media.

City fans are growing in belief that a deal could be done for Bouaddi, though it does throw doubt over a potential move for Sandro Tonali.

Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi featuring in the 2026-27 Manchester City home kit
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Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi featuring in the 2026-27 Manchester City home kit
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What does this mean for Rodri's future?

Questions have already been raised about how much longer Rodri may have left at the Etihad Stadium, with the player about to enter the final 12 months of his contract.

With constant links to Elliot Anderson and Tonali, the Citizens appear to be putting contingency plans in place should the Spaniard depart.

While Anderson and Tonali are clearly talented in both halves of the pitch, Bouaddi's abilities come primarily in the defensive third, in front of his own goal.

That is exactly the kind of figure that Enzo Maresca will need to fill Rodri's shoes, so it would appear that the 30-year-old may not have much longer left.

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