City have found Rodri's replacement! The deal for the 18-year-old World Cup star is sealed

Manchester City have completed the signing of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Details: According to Nicolo Schira, the 18-year-old Moroccan will sign a deal with the Citizens running until 2031. Fabrizio Romano reports the total package is valued at around £102 million: Lille stood firm at a €100 million price tag, but City made the decisive offer to fend off other European giants.

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Maresca's logic is clear: Bouaddi is being brought in as a long-term replacement for Rodri, who is set to join Barcelona. Lille head coach Davide Ancelotti has openly admitted the negotiations and confessed he was praying for the deal to fall through, but City's financial muscle proved too convincing to resist.

Bouaddi emerged as one of the revelations of the World Cup for Morocco, which saw his Transfermarkt valuation skyrocket from €50 million to €80 million, making him the most expensive Moroccan player in history—surpassing Achraf Hakimi. An initial loan-back to Lille was discussed, but the player insisted: he wants to join Manchester right now, not in 2027.

Reminder: Agreement reached for Ayyoub Bouaddi's transfer to Manchester City