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Man City news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Man City agreed to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for €95m plus €5m add-ons. The 18-year-old Morocco midfielder is Rodri's replacement after Rodri joined Barcelona for €60m.
Background
Manchester City are undergoing a major squad overhaul after a decade under Pep Guardiola, who has been succeeded by Enzo Maresca. Key midfielder Rodri, a Ballon d'Or winner, left for Barcelona, and several other players have departed or are set to leave. City have already signed Elliot Anderson for £116m and are now adding Bouaddi to fill the void.
How it unfolded
- Aug 18, 2026Newcastle United showed interest in signing Nico González from Man City, sources told ESPN.
- Aug 22, 2026Reports indicated Man City were closing in on Bouaddi, with negotiations accelerating.
- Aug 23, 2026The Athletic reported Man City reached an agreement with Lille for Bouaddi, initial €95m plus €5m add-ons, contract through 2031.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Man City coach Enzo Maresca said the club need to find a 'new Rodri' and are confident of filling the void.
- Analysts
- Al Jazeera noted Bouaddi is a 'very raw youngster' and not a like-for-like replacement for Rodri.
- Caution
- Sports Illustrated observed City 'don't look like serious challengers' after a 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
Still unverified
The deal for Bouaddi is reported as agreed but not yet officially announced by the club.