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Ayyoub Bouaddi says YES to Man City transfer as £85m deal moves step closer Teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi is heading to Manchester City to replace Bernardo Silva and provide new boss Enzo Maresca with a much needed boost Manchester City are confident of landing Morocco star Ayyoub Bouaddi in an £85m deal before the end of this week. Etihad bosses have advanced talks with their Lille counterparts following the sale of Rodri to Barcelona. The teenage sensation has told his club he wants to leave to join the English giants. It's understood Bouaddi will agree a five-year-deal with City, that will keep him at the Etihad until 2031 at least. Bouaddi, 18, has emerged as one of the most talented and exciting teenagers in world football. City chiefs kept close tabs on his progress at this summer's World Cup, once it became clear Rodri would be leaving to return to Spain. Bouaddi impressed at the tournament, starting five of Morocco's six matches in their run to the last eight. City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has been impressed with how Bouaddi has been able to step up on the big occasions as his burgeoning career has developed. Senior club figures believe Bouaddi's ability to remain unfazed and be able to compete against more senior and experienced players makes him an ideal fit for the City team. Before the World Cup, Bouaddi had a starring role in Lille's shock Champions League win over Real Madrid in 2024, when he announced himself onto the big stage. New City boss Enzo Maresca regards Bouaddi as the ideal, long-term replacement for Bernardo Silva, who has joined Real Madrid at the end of last season. Bouaddi has made 88 appearances for Lille since making his debut in October 2023, three days after turning 16, and helped them finish third in Ligue One last season. He also broke a record held by Eden Hazard, after making 50 Ligue One appearances for Lille at the age of just 18. City are still keen to sign a direct replacement for holding midfielder Rodri, but talks with Chelsea about a deal for Enzo Fernandez have stalled. Join our WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts. This introductory offer saves £384 compared to the standard price, with every package also providing 100 regular channels alongside free Netflix and discovery+ subscriptions.