Ayyoub Bouaddi set for record Lille move to Man City

Lille are set to lose Ayyoub Bouaddi to Manchester City in a deal that would create a new record for a Ligue 1 player moving abroad. The agreement ends months of uncertainty around the 18-year-old Morocco international, whose future had been the subject of speculation since the start of the summer.

Manchester City will pay €100 million, bonuses included, for Bouaddi. If completed, the transfer will become the most expensive departure from Ligue 1 to a foreign club in the history of the French championship. It will also place Bouaddi among the five players involved in transfers worth at least €100m this summer.

Morgan Rodgers leads that group at €137m, followed by Elliot Anderson at €135m and Yan Diomandé at €125m. Sandro Tonali’s move was valued at €108m. Bouaddi’s proposed fee is therefore below those four amounts, but his transfer carries a separate significance for Lille and Ligue 1 because of the record attached to an overseas move.

Bouaddi is expected to sign a five-year contract with Manchester City, with the English club holding an option for an additional season. He travelled to Angers with Lille but will not play for the club in Sunday’s match. The next steps are expected to be his medical examination and the signing of his contract next week, after which the transfer can be formalised.