On August 26th, 18-year-old Moroccan midfield prodigy Bouaddi completed a blockbuster transfer, joining Manchester City from Lille for a total fee of €100 million and signing a five-year contract. 

With this deal, Bouaddi has officially surpassed Yoro to become the most expensive U18 player in football history.

The previous record was held by Manchester United defender Yoro. In the summer of 2024, Manchester United paid a transfer fee of around £58.9 million to sign Yoro from Lille, while Bouaddi’s move to Manchester City is worth €100 million, setting a new record in the transfer market for young players.

Manchester City's decision to spend heavily on Bouaddi is linked to adjustments to the team's midfield setup. With Rodri, Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez laeving, Manchester City hope the Moroccan talent can become an important piece of their midfield for years to come.

Bouaddi has developed at an astonishing pace in recent years. He made his first-team debut for Lille at the age of 16 and gradually established himself as a midfield leader within the team. To date, he has made 96 appearances for Lille. At this World Cup, Bouaddi also made a breakthrough with the Morocco national team, helping the national team reach the quarter-finals before they were ultimately stopped by France.

After joining Manchester City, Bouaddi expressed his excitement in an interview: "Today is a very special day for me and my family. In my view, Manchester City is the best club in the world."

"Being able to come here and become a Manchester City player is my dream. I have always trained hard, hoping to become the best version of myself and reach the highest stage in football."