This is the end of the Lille adventure for Ayyoub Bouaddi. At just 18 years old, the midfielder left his training club and signed with Manchester City for five seasons, with an additional year optional. To snatch the Moroccan international from LOSC, the Cityzens paid 100 million euros, a record in the history of the northern club ahead of the 80 million paid by Arsenal for Nicolas Pépé. Bouaddi arrives in Manchester to strengthen a midfield where he is notably called upon to take over from Rodri. Trained in Lille, where he had arrived five years earlier, the native of Senlis leaves the North after 96 appearances with the first team, including 42 last season. Launched among the professionals in 2023, he had broken several records for precocity before establishing himself under Paulo Fonseca then Bruno Genesio. His rating rose further this summer during his first World Cup with Morocco, where he started five of the Atlas Lions’ six matches. With this 100 million euro operation, Bouaddi also becomes the most expensive player sold by a Ligue 1 club to a foreign club.
After his transfer was made official, Bouaddi sent a long farewell message to Lille supporters. “ Dear Lille supporters, it’s never easy to say goodbye. Lille is the place where I grew up, where I learned and where I experienced my first emotions at the highest level. From the training grounds to my first training sessions with the professional group, from my first minutes in this jersey to the big European evenings, each stage will remain engraved in my memory. I want to thank everyone who contributed to this adventure: the coaches who gave me my chance, the members of the different staff, the medical staff, the managers, and more broadly, all of the club’s employees. Everyone, in their own way, contributes to bringing the club to life every day and has been important in my career. Thanks also to all my teammates. I learned a lot from you. Some were there when I discovered the professional world and helped me find my place there. I will treasure all these moments shared in the locker room, in training, during travel, in victories as well as in more difficult periods. Finally, thank you, the supporters. Your support has meant more than you can imagine, and defending these colors in front of you has been a source of immense pride. Today, I leave LOSC with great gratitude. No matter what jersey I wear, Lille will always be part of me and I will keep this club in my heart. Thanks for everything. »
