Manchester City Announces the Signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi as Rodri's Replacement

Manchester City makes a major investment in Ayyoub Bouaddi, paying around $116 million for the Lille wonderkid, who is expected to play a key role in the midfield rebuild.

Manchester City Breaks the Bank to Sign Ayyoub Bouaddi for a Record Fee

Manchester City has officially announced the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi, the young Lille star who arrives at the Etihad Stadium at just 18 years old. The English club will pay approximately $116 million, in a deal that includes around $110.2 million guaranteed and up to $5.8 million in add-ons.

The Moroccan international has signed a five-year contract and becomes one of the major investments of the project led by Enzo Maresca, who is looking to rebuild a midfield that lost several key players over the summer.

Bouaddi Arrives to Fill a Huge Void in Midfield

The departure of Rodri left a particularly difficult void to fill. The Spanish midfielder had been one of Manchester City's most important players for years. However, Bouaddi is not a copy of Rodri, and that could be precisely what makes this move so intriguing.

City had already invested heavily in Elliot Anderson, but the addition of the Moroccan shows that Maresca intends to carry out a major overhaul of the team's midfield.

Young Prospect Who Had Already Caught Europe's Attention

Although he is only 18, Bouaddi arrives in Manchester with a résumé that is unusual for a player his age. The midfielder made his first-team debut for Lille just days after turning 16 and quickly began breaking age-related records in France.

Among his achievements, he surpassed Eden Hazard as the youngest player to reach 50 Ligue 1 appearances. In total, he made 88 appearances for Lille before making the move to English football.

His performances also drew attention during the 2026 World Cup with Morocco, where he started five of the Atlas Lions' six matches. His performance against Brazil was particularly impressive and helped establish him as one of the tournament's most talked-about young players.

Man City Hopes Bouaddi Will Write His Own Story

The presentation of Ayyoub Bouaddi made it clear that Manchester City does not intend to place the “new Rodri” label on him from day one. The transfer fee, which is close to $116 million, will inevitably raise expectations, but his profile suggests that City is thinking about a long-term project.

The arrival of Enzo Maresca in the dugout could also benefit his development. The Italian manager will have the responsibility of finding the right environment for Bouaddi to showcase his best qualities without asking him to replicate exactly what Rodri did.