The 2026 World Cup is propelling Ayyoub Bouaddi into another dimension. Author of exceptional performances with Morocco, the young 18-year-old midfielder has established himself as one of the great revelations of the tournament. Or at least for those who didn’t know him. Impressive in his serenity, capable of dictating the tempo and being present in major events, the new Lion of the Atlas strings together very high-level performances. Already highly rated before the World Cup, the Lille player now sees his value explode and everything indicates that he will, in addition, leave LOSC this summer.
For several weeks, the largest European teams have been following its development very closely. PSG, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have all been associated with the Moroccan prodigy in recent months. His profile, his precocity and his margin for progress make him one of the most followed files of the next transfer window, while Lille already knows that it will be extremely difficult to resist the offensives of the European giants.
City enters the race
And the list of contenders continues to grow. According to information from MarcaManchester City is keeping a very close eye on the situation of Ayyoub Bouaddi. The English club greatly appreciates the profile of the Moroccan midfielder and considers him one of the most promising young talents in European football. Still according to the Spanish media, direct contacts have already taken place between the leaders of Skyblues and LOSC, proof that the interest is particularly concrete.
With almost unrivaled financial power, Manchester City obviously has strong arguments to convince Lille and the player. If the competition promises to be fierce, the Citizens intend to play their card until the end. One thing now seems certain: if Ayyoub Bouaddi continues his momentum during this World Cup, his transfer window risks getting completely out of control in the coming weeks and giving rise to an XXL battle between the biggest clubs on the continent.
