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Arsenal are among several elite European clubs vying to sign the young Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has become one of the standout performers at the World Cup.

It took Morocco just 71 seconds to score against Scotland in the World Cup, and unsurprisingly, Bouaddi played a key role in the move. Under pressure from Scott McTominay, the 18-year-old calmly threaded a clever pass to his captain, Achraf Hakimi, who lofted the ball over Scotland’s defence for Ismael Saibari to fire past Angus Gunn.

That proved to be the decisive goal, and Bouaddi’s contribution highlighted both his composure and immense potential.

Some of Europe’s biggest clubs are eager to secure Bouaddi’s signature this summer. Arsenal have already approached Lille regarding the teenager, who is valued at £70 million, as they look to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s midfield for their Premier League title defence.

However, the Gunners face stiff competition from Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich, all of whom are monitoring the player closely.

Bouaddi’s rise has been swift. During a breakout season with Lille, he made 42 appearances, catching the attention of top scouts across Europe. His recent display in Morocco’s draw against Brazil further cemented his growing reputation and demonstrated precisely why Arsenal are so keen on him.

When he started against Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil, it was only his third senior appearance for Morocco, having switched allegiance from France in May. Despite his inexperience, he delivered a commanding performance on football’s grandest stage.

At the MetLife Stadium, Bouaddi’s energy and technical skill were on full display. Known for his tough tackling and relentless work rate, he covered nearly 12 kilometres in 29-degree heat against Brazil. His passing was equally impressive, completing 60 passes from 87 touches, a testament to his maturity and efficiency under pressure.

He also enjoys driving forward with the ball, though Olivier Giroud humorously revealed that Bouaddi still faces good-natured teasing from Lille teammates about his finishing.

In Morocco’s next match against Scotland in Boston, Bouaddi had a quieter evening by his own standards — but that was largely by design. Scotland manager Steve Clarke had specifically set up his side to limit Bouaddi’s influence.

“Bouaddi caught everyone’s eye in the first game (against Brazil),” Clarke said before the match. “Our job now is to make sure he doesn’t dominate the second.”

To that end, Clarke deployed a five-man midfield, featuring Scott McTominay, John McGinn, and Lewis Ferguson, with Kieran Tierney and Ryan Christie also dropping deep to crowd Bouaddi out of the game. The close marking reduced his touches and defensive contributions, but his quality still shone through at times. His quick one-touch passing was key to helping Morocco bypass Scotland’s pressing, and a crucial late tackle on Ben Gannon-Doak set up a counter-attack.

Arsenal’s interest in Bouaddi is easy to understand. With Martin Zubimendi fatigued from a demanding season, Bouaddi — nine years younger — appears to be an ideal long-term alternative in midfield.

Veteran striker Olivier Giroud even believes the youngster’s potential ceiling could rival that of Kylian Mbappe. That is a lofty comparison for a player yet to score a senior goal, but his performances in Ligue 1 and at the World Cup suggest such praise is not misplaced.

Unfazed by the spotlight, Bouaddi has displayed a maturity beyond his years. Whichever club secures his services this summer is likely to have a gem on their hands — a player built to shine for years to come.