Lille president Olivier Létang has reportedly set a €100 million price tag for midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, amid strong interest from Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City, according to L’Équipe. The 18-year-old’s stock has risen sharply following a breakthrough year that included a standout performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League and a successful showing with Morocco at the recent World Cup.
Bouaddi joined Lille’s youth academy at the age of 13, having previously been developed by AFC Creil. He first gained wider recognition with an impressive display against Real Madrid in October 2024, aged just 17. His performances for Morocco, where he was named man of the match in a friendly against Brazil, further enhanced his reputation and attracted attention from top European clubs.
Létang acknowledged the interest, stating that few clubs could currently afford a player of Bouaddi’s quality. He expressed a preference for the young midfielder to remain with Lille for at least another season to continue his development, though he admitted that all possibilities remain open. The club recently extended Bouaddi’s contract to 2029 in December, strengthening their negotiating position.
Lille’s qualification for the Champions League is seen as a key factor in potentially persuading Bouaddi to stay. Létang has a reputation as a shrewd negotiator, having previously secured significant transfer fees for players such as Yoro, Diakité, and Chevalier. He reportedly aims to make Bouaddi the most expensive player to ever leave Ligue 1, surpassing Neymar’s €90 million move to Al-Hilal in 2023. Létang privately cites recent high-profile midfield transfers to the Premier League, such as Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali, as benchmarks for Bouaddi’s value.
New Lille manager Davide Ancelotti, who witnessed Bouaddi’s talent firsthand during the World Cup, stated he would be happy to have the player in his squad but deferred to the club’s decision-making process. Lille are also working on contract extensions for Nabil Bentaleb and are targeting reinforcements in several positions, including goalkeeper, centre-back (reportedly Tanguy Kouassi of Sevilla FC), and midfield (potentially Gjivai Zechiël of Feyenoord Rotterdam).
