Lille Set Ayyoub Bouaddi...

Lille is asking for between €80-100 million for teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi this summer.
The Ligue 1 club favors a deal that includes a one-year loan back for the Moroccan prodigy.
This aligns with Manchester City’s own preference for a loan-back agreement.

Lille has set a price range of €80–100 million for Manchester City target Ayyoub Bouaddi. The president of the French club favors a deal that allows the midfielder to return on loan for another year, according to a recent report from France.

Bouaddi has become a focal point of the summer transfer window, with the 18-year-old’s standout performances for Morocco at the FIFA World Cup in North America significantly increasing interest in a player Manchester City had already been tracking.

Reportedly, the Blues are pursuing a deal that would allow Bouaddi to join the club now but stay at Lille on loan for the next season, joining manager Enzo Maresca’s squad at the Etihad Stadium for the 2027-28 campaign.

Fabrizio Romano reveals insights on Manchester City’s pathway for Ayyoub Bouaddi

Report: Lille president sets €80-100M asking price as loan-back structure develops

As reported by RMC Sport insider Fabrice Hawkins, Lille president Olivier Létang is asking for a fee between €80-100 million for Bouaddi, favoring a deal structure that would allow the player to be loaned back to Lille for one year.

This arrangement – reminiscent of Manchester City’s previous arrangement with Julian Alvarez in 2022 (which involved a six-month loan back) – would enable Bouaddi to remain in familiar surroundings and continue his development before stepping up to the Premier League.

With Lille narrowing the gap between their asking price and what City is willing to offer, the two clubs now primarily need to resolve the transfer fee as they agree on the broader framework of the deal.

The €80-100 million price range represents a considerable investment for a player who wouldn’t join Maresca until the summer of 2027, though it falls within what City sporting director Hugo Viana has shown readiness to invest in players identified as key components for the future of the squad.

What does Lille’s valuation mean for Man City’s pursuit of Bouaddi?

The alignment in terms of structure between City and Lille indicates significant progress in what was previously seen as a complex negotiation. Now, the two clubs seem to differ mainly on the fee rather than the deal’s mechanics.

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also reportedly interested in Bouaddi, and Lille’s public setting of their asking price indicates they’re open to competitive offers, rather than viewing City as the only serious contender.

Lille opens the door for Manchester City transfer of Ayyoub Bouaddi

City’s willingness to meet Lille’s valuation and whether Viana will aim to negotiate the fee closer to the lower end of the €80-100 million range remain critical questions as both sides appear to accelerate their dealings as the summer window intensifies.