Lille OSC has slapped a €100 million price tag on Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old midfielder who has quietly become one of the most coveted young players in European football. Manchester United has reportedly inquired about the teenager, joining a growing queue of elite clubs willing to pay generational-talent prices for a player who hasn’t even turned 20.
The French club is also entertaining a slightly softer alternative: €80 million paired with a pre-agreement that would see Bouaddi loaned back to Lille until 2027.
A prodigy’s rapid rise
Bouaddi became Lille’s youngest-ever senior debutant when he stepped onto the pitch at age 16 in 2023. By 18, he’s already racked up over 50 Ligue 1 appearances.
During Morocco’s 2026 World Cup opener against Brazil, Bouaddi registered 87 touches and completed 60 passes. FIFA approved his switch from France to Morocco on May 15, 2026, a decision that instantly amplified his profile on the global stage heading into a World Cup cycle with an expanded 48-team format.
