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Manchester City are nearing an agreement to sign Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Personal terms are understood to already be agreed, although Lille are pressing to keep the 18-year-old on loan for one more season.

Bouaddi would become City’s second major central midfield signing of the summer after the £116 million arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

Manchester City officials are moving ever closer to completing a headline summer transfer for one of the standout young players from the recent FIFA World Cup.

A graduate of Lille’s academy, Bouaddi has already made 96 appearances for the club. The 18-year-old was also among the most impressive performers during Morocco’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals, a journey that ended only with a narrow loss to France.

His displays have attracted interest from several of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. Manchester City are understood to have moved ahead of Arsenal, whose focus appears to be on Bruno Guimaraes.

Discussions between the two clubs have been developing for weeks, with senior Manchester City figures and Lille president Olivier Létang entering into direct talks from the end of June.

The clubs still appear to be apart on the precise transfer fee, with City trying to secure a deal below Lille’s €100 million valuation, but the overall framework of the move is said to be close to being resolved.

Ayyoub Bouaddi would be City’s second significant central midfield addition of the transfer window, following the £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, as Enzo Maresca and Hugo Viana continue to make rebuilding the middle of the pitch a priority.

According to information from Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City are stepping up their efforts to finalise an agreement for Lille and Morocco international midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with talks set to continue on Thursday.

It is being reported that an agreement between Manchester City and the Ligue 1 club has moved closer, while progress has also been made this week on personal terms with the teenager’s representatives.

Further reporting from France by Footmercato’s Santi Aouna and Hanif Berkane says an agreement between Manchester City and Lille for Bouaddi is ‘imminent’, while the player himself has already given his approval to a move to the Etihad Stadium.

From Lille’s side, it is said that the French club still want to keep the 18-year-old on loan for one more season, whereas Manchester City want Bouaddi to join and be integrated into the squad this summer.

A similar update has also come from journalist Matteo Moretto, who says City have reached a verbal agreement with Ayyoub Bouaddi and remain in advanced negotiations with Lille.

Both sides are believed to be assessing the best possible solution for the Moroccan international midfielder, with Lille hoping to retain him on loan for the 2026/27 season and City keen to bring him into the Premier League immediately.

There are strong reasons to believe Manchester City will push hard to have Ayyoub Bouaddi available from the beginning of the season, especially with Enzo Maresca eager to build midfield understanding early in his spell in charge.

The timing is also particularly significant because of Rodri’s still unresolved future at the club, with Real Madrid’s interest in the FIFA World Cup-winning midfielder and captain yet to disappear completely.

Whether Bouaddi arrives to spend a season learning directly from one of the world’s best holding midfielders, or as the long-term heir to a position Rodri may soon leave, is likely to become one of the most intriguing storylines in City’s summer rebuild.