Who is Ayyoub Bouaddi? The £50m Morocco star on Man United's radar
Ayyoub Bouaddi has been linked with numerous Premier League clubs following his standout performance for Morocco against Brazil.
Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been credited with holding interest in Bouaddi.
Michael Carrick is actively pursuing a new midfielder at Man United, with the club currently keen to add West Ham star Mateus Fernandes to their squad.
Valued at over £80million by West Ham, Bouaddi could turn out to be a cheaper addition alongside Fernandes.
The World Cup may increase Bouaddi's value across Europe, so Man United may have to move fast to secure his services.
Football Insider reveals all you need to know about Bouaddi as a move to the Premier League could be on the cards this summer.
What has Ayyoub Bouaddi's career looked like so far?
The 18-year-old has had a short career to date, coming through the academy at Lille to become a first team player for the Ligue 1 side.
Born in France, Bouaddi played for the country's youth teams at every level, from under 16's to under 21's, before switching his allegiance to Morocco.
That seems to have worked out well as Bouaddi was called up to their World Cup squad and shined during their 1-1 draw against Brazil.
Making his Champions League debut against Real Madrid on his 17th birthday, Bouaddi is already used to playing in big games.
The Moroccan was the youngest player to reach 50 appearances for Lille in Ligue 1 since Eden Hazard, and signed a new contract with the club in December 2025, which expires in 2029.
Sources have told Football Insider that Arsenal have already opened preliminary talks with Lille over signing Bouaddi this summer at a price of £50m.
What kind of midfielder is Ayyoub Bouaddi?
Across 28 starts for Lille in Ligue 1 this season, Bouaddi failed to score a goal, and managed to grab just one assist.
A defensive midfielder, Bouaddi showcased the best version of himself against Brazil.
The teenager, playing against Brazil duo Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes, won nine of his 14 ground duels and made six recoveries.
In possession, Bouaddi successfully completed 91 per cent of his passes, made eight progressive carries, and completed the most successful dribbles of any player on the pitch.
Against two players more vastly experienced than himself, Bouaddi has proven that a transfer to the Premier League this season would be well deserved.
Bouaddi is set to feature in Morocco's next two World Cup fixtures in the group stage against Scotland and Haiti, which could see his transfer fee increase further.