Bouaddi deal agreed
Manchester City have agreed a deal in principle worth €100 million (£85.6m) to sign 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to multiple reports. The Morocco international is set to join Enzo Maresca's side after Lille accepted an initial fee of £81.4m plus £4.2m in add-ons, as reported by the BBC. The Independent similarly reports a €95m initial fee with a potential €5m in add-ons, while The Straits Times puts the total at £86 million (S$149 million).
Bouaddi, who has been a target of City's all summer, will travel to England to complete a medical before finalising his switch to the Etihad Stadium, according to The Straits Times. He is expected to sign a five-year deal, per The Independent. The agreement follows several weeks of talks between the two clubs, as noted by The Straits Times.
Midfield overhaul
The signing of Bouaddi is the latest step in a major reshaping of City's midfield. The club have already sold Rodri to Barcelona for £65m and Tijjani Reijnders to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah for £52m, as reported by the BBC. The Independent adds that captain Bernardo Silva has also departed, joining Real Madrid, and that City have brought in around £150m in sales this summer, with James Trafford, Nathan Ake and Rodri among those leaving, plus the £85m sale of Savinho to Tottenham.
City have already signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m, and Bouaddi is set to join him in the revamped midfield, according to The Independent. Only Anderson and Jack Grealish have ever cost City more than Bouaddi's fee, making him the third most expensive signing in the club's history, as reported by The Independent.
Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola as manager at the end of last season, has made central midfield a key area for new signings, according to The Straits Times. The Independent notes that City could sell Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle and may look for a third midfield signing this summer, with Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea also a target.
Fernandez interest remains
City remain interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, but a deal has not yet been struck, as reported by the BBC. The Straits Times adds that Chelsea set a recent deadline for bids for the £120 million-rated Argentinian that passed without a deal being done. City are also believed to retain an interest in Fernandez, according to The Straits Times.
Bouaddi's pedigree
Bouaddi, who excelled in the World Cup at the age of 18, was one of the standout players at the recent tournament, helping Morocco reach the quarter-finals before they were beaten by France, as reported by The Straits Times. The Independent notes that he is a former France Under-21 international.
Reijnders completes Saudi move
Meanwhile, Tijjani Reijnders has completed his move from Manchester City to Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah for a reported £52 million, according to The National. The Dutch midfielder will play for Brendan Rodgers' side in Khobar, in Saudi Arabia's eastern region.
City only signed the 28-year-old from AC Milan last summer, making his swift departure notable, as The National reports. Despite helping City win the League Cup and FA Cup, Reijnders scored only seven goals in 47 appearances under Guardiola, and he struggled to make a significant impact in what turned out to be Guardiola's last season at the club, according to The National.
Reijnders had been training apart from City's main squad under new coach Maresca ahead of the Saudi move, as reported by The National. He was part of the Netherlands squad at the 2026 World Cup, making three appearances in group games against Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia, but missed the last-32 tie against Morocco, according to The National.
The move is the Saudi Pro League's second major raid on English football this summer, after Al Hilal signed Crysencio Summerville for €64.5 million last month, as reported by The National. Al Qadsiah finished fourth in the SPL last season and beat Al Shabab 3-1 in their first match of the new campaign. The SPL transfer window closes on September 6.