Man City Sign Ayyoub Bouaddi in Record £86m Deal as Marmoush and Gonzalez Exit
Manchester City completed the signing of 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a deal worth up to £86m. According to The Guardian, the Morocco international signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, anchoring a aggressive summer midfield rebuild for manager Enzo Maresca following the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Tijjani Reijnders.
Midfield Restructuring and Record Transfer Outlays
Bouaddi’s arrival represents City’s second major midfield acquisition of the window, following the £116 million capture of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, as reported by RTÉ. The club’s financial rotation also saw Nico González complete a £52 million move to Newcastle United, with the 24-year-old Spanish midfielder stepping in to help bolster the Magpies following Bruno Guimarães’s departure to Arsenal. González started 17 Premier League matches for City last season after arriving from Porto during the 2025 winter transfer window.
Forward Departures and Tottenham Loans
While the midfield undergoes a generational overhaul, City’s attacking line has seen simultaneous pruning. Forward Omar Marmoush is slated for a medical at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of a season-long loan deal containing an obligation to buy for an initial £50 million, alongside up to £10 million in performance-related add-ons. Marmoush is scheduled to sign a permanent four-year contract with a one-year option next summer. The deal follows Sávio’s £85 million transfer to Spurs earlier in the week, marking a direct talent pipeline between the two Premier League clubs.
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has overseen a massive £304.5 million summer spending spree, bringing in Marmoush and Sávio alongside Sandro Tonali, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Mateus Fernandes to upgrade an attack that previously leaned on Dominic Solanke and Richarlison.
Targeting Further Additions and Market Dynamics
City are not finished shaping their squad. The club is expected to formalise its interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández, whom the west London club values at £120 million. Simultaneously, City secured a £34 million deal for Palmeiras wide forward Allan Elias to serve as a direct replacement for Sávio.
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