The teenager, born in Senlis just north of Paris, made his Lille debut at 16 years and three days and has since amassed 96 first-team appearances for the French club.
Bouaddi only earned his first Morocco cap in May, yet he has already played three matches at the World Cup, helping the team reach the last 16, where they face Canada on Saturday at 18:00 BST.
On his tournament bow against five-time champions Brazil, he stood out for his composure, registering a team-high 87 touches and completing 60 accurate passes—more than any of his teammates.
Coach El Amri believes Bouaddi has the tools to become one of the best midfielders in the sport, provided he stays grounded and committed. He likens the youngster to Sergio Busquets: tall, relatively lean for a No 6 or No 8, calm under pressure in possession and when pressing, and notably disciplined, committing few fouls—traits that defined Busquets at his peak.
Last season, Bouaddi underlined his potential by leading multiple categories among players aged 18 or under across Europe’s top five leagues. He logged the most minutes (2,329) and appearances (30), outpacing high-profile peers such as Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Werder Bremen’s Karim Coulibaly and Wolves’ Mateus Mane. His high-energy displays also saw him top his age group for ball recoveries (151), along with 59 tackles and 27 interceptions.
Lille are said to value him between £69m and £86m—reflective of current prices for elite midfielders, as highlighted by Manchester City’s impending club-record move for England’s Anderson. Enzo Maresca’s side had also explored a deal for Sandro Tonali, who is instead set to join Tottenham, while Rodri’s future remains uncertain as he enters the final year of his City contract.
While Bouaddi may prove a long-term solution for a top club, his immediate focus is helping Morocco go one better than four years ago, when they reached the World Cup semi-finals before losing to France.
El Amri adds that Bouaddi is hugely popular in Morocco not only for his football but also his character—calling him the “perfect son-in-law.” He has a high school diploma in mathematics and physics, underscoring his intelligence. In El Amri’s view, Bouaddi has what it takes to become both a top player and a standout person—qualities with which many Moroccans strongly identify.