City Xtra

·29 July 2026

City Xtra

·29 July 2026

Talks between Man City and Lille described as “particularly intense” as both clubs try to find common ground

Bouaddi has agreed personal terms with Man City on a contract until 2031

Man City are confident of finishing the deal in the next few days, with around €10M still separating the two sides

Manchester City have agreed personal terms with Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and are confident of closing a deal with Lille in the coming days, according to reports.

The 18-year-old midfielder has become one of the most sought-after young midfielders in European football after a breakthrough season with Lille in Ligue 1 and a standout showing at the FIFA World Cup in North America with Morocco.

Several reliable reports now point to a deal that has reached its final phase, with personal terms settled, a fee range already identified, and belief rising on both sides that an agreement is close, although the exact make-up of the package still remains under active discussion between the two clubs.

Revealed: Man City CEO Ferran Soriano held June meeting with Lille president over Ayyoub Bouaddi

Manchester City’s chase for Bouaddi has been one of the major stories of the summer window, with CEO Ferran Soriano attending a meeting with Lille president Olivier Létang at the end of June as the club made clear its intention to push the deal through at the highest executive level, in a move similar to the intervention that eventually proved decisive in the British record signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

The latest round of reporting now offers the clearest picture yet of where the negotiations stand, with the difference between the two clubs narrowing into a question of final structure rather than any real disagreement over whether a deal should happen.

As reported by Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport, talks between the Etihad Stadium executives and Lille have become “particularly intense” as both sides work to find common ground on a transfer, while discussions are also taking place directly between Manchester City and the player’s camp.

Fabrizio Romano adds that Manchester City are confident of completing a deal for Bouaddi in the coming days, which is the clearest timeline yet attached to a pursuit that has been reported since the early part of the window.

The most detailed update comes from journalist Sacha Tavolieri, who reports that Bouaddi has already agreed a personal contract with Manchester City until 2031, with the only remaining issue now being the fee. Lille continue to hold out for the €100 million mark, while City are trying to finalise a deal worth about €90 million fixed, with possible bonuses on top.

The gap between those two valuations, roughly €10 million in headline figures, is the last obstacle in a negotiation that has already seen Soriano and Létang meet face to face and both sides steadily move closer to the position they now occupy.

Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi set for major role change at Manchester City

Bouaddi would arrive as the second major midfield signing of the summer alongside Anderson, completing the rebuild of central midfield that new City manager Enzo Maresca identified as the top priority of his first transfer window in charge.

Whether the fee gap can be closed in the coming days through a mix of fixed fee and performance-related bonuses is now the only remaining hurdle between Manchester City and the completion of a signing that would send another clear message about the club’s ambitions in the post-Guardiola era.

Maresca and his pre-season Manchester City squad have arrived in Hong Kong for their opening fixtures before they travel on to Seoul ahead of a return to the UK to face Arsenal in the FA Community Shield in mid-August.