Chelsea have joined Arsenal in the pursuit of Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old midfielder from Lille, according to talkSPORT. The Moroccan international has attracted attention after a strong showing at the World Cup, including a notable performance in his nation’s 1-1 draw with Brazil on Saturday.
Bouaddi emerged from Lille’s youth system in 2023 and has quickly established himself as a promising talent in European football. He featured in 42 games for Lille across all competitions in the 2025/26 season, providing one assist. Arsenal were previously reported by The Times in May to have identified Bouaddi as a potential summer signing.
Chelsea, along with Liverpool, are now also vying for the player, who is reportedly valued at €60 million (£51.8m). Fabrizio Romano of Sky Sports confirmed on Sunday that Liverpool have been tracking Bouaddi for several months. Bouaddi himself acknowledged the interest from top European clubs, stating to The Athletic that he is “happy” to be on their radar, but remains focused on the World Cup with Morocco.
Lille president Olivier Letang has indicated the club will only consider offers exceeding €50 million (£43.2m) for Bouaddi. Speaking to RMC Sport, Letang emphasized the club’s desire to retain the player, who recently extended his contract until 2029. He stated that €50 million is “not enough” and that any offer would need to be “extraordinary.”
In separate news, Chelsea have agreed to a €60 million (£51.8m) deal with Real Madrid for Marc Cucurella, as reported by The Athletic. The agreement was reached on the eve of Sunday’s World Cup fixtures. Cucurella had previously expressed concerns about the club’s direction following the departure of Enzo Maresca in January, telling The Athletic in March that he would have preferred to see the managerial change delayed until the end of the season.
Cucurella’s departure could allow Chelsea to further reshape their squad, while Bouaddi’s potential arrival would add depth and creativity to their midfield options. The competition for Bouaddi is expected to intensify as the transfer window progresses.
