Man City move for £85m Bouaddi and still want Fernandez

Manchester City are in advanced talks with Lille over a potential £85.6 million move for Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as the Premier League champions look to strengthen their midfield following the impending departure of Rodri.

City are keen to complete a deal for the 18-year-old this week after agreeing to sell Spain international Rodri to Barcelona for £65 million.

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Lille value Bouaddi at €100 million (£85.6 million), with negotiations continuing over a transfer that would make the teenager one of the most expensive young midfielders in football.

City have also maintained their interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, although Chelsea expect the Argentina international to remain at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the season after their self-imposed deadline for bids passed.

Should City complete deals for both Bouaddi and Fernandez, the pair would join Elliot Anderson as major midfield additions this summer.

Bouaddi impressed at the 2026 World Cup, starting five of Morocco’s six matches as they reached the quarter-finals. His reputation had already grown following his impressive performances for Lille, including their Champions League victory over Real Madrid in 2024.

The teenager operates as a deep-lying midfielder and is viewed as a player capable of controlling the tempo from a deeper position. His profile could complement Anderson, who can operate both as a box-to-box midfielder and as a number six.

Bouaddi has made 88 appearances for Lille since making his senior debut in October 2023, just three days after his 16th birthday. He helped the French club finish third in Ligue 1 last season.

Meanwhile, Rodri is set to complete his move to Barcelona after seven seasons at Manchester City. The 30-year-old joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club-record £62.8 million and went on to make 298 appearances for the club.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner missed much of the 2024-25 season with a serious knee injury and was also affected by a hamstring problem last season, but returned to his best at the World Cup, where he helped Spain win their second global title and was named player of the tournament.

City’s continued pursuit of Fernandez means the club could yet make further significant additions before the September 1 transfer deadline, despite Chelsea’s expectation that the midfielder will stay.

The proposed midfield overhaul reflects City’s determination to replace the influence of Rodri while adding younger options to their squad.