Ayyoub Bouaddi

Ayyoub Bouaddi (born 2 October 2007) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Manchester City. Born in France, he plays for the Morocco national team.

Early life and education Bouaddi was born in Senlis, France, to a Moroccan family of Shilha Berber origin with roots in the city of Tiznit. In June 2023, at the Elysée Palace, he won the fourth eloquence competition for French football academies. He gained a high school diploma in mathematics and physics through distance learning.

Club career Lille After starting football as a child in Creil, Bouaddi joined Lille academy in 2021. On 21 August 2023, he signed his first professional contract with the club until June 2026.

On 5 October 2023, Bouaddi made his senior debut for Lille in a UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match against Faroese club KÍ which ended as a goalless draw. At the age of 16 years and 3 days, this made him the youngest player ever to play in a European club competition game. He also became the youngest player to appear in an official match for Lille, a record which was previously held by Joël Henry since 1978. On 22 October, at 16 years and 20 days, he became the youngest player in Ligue 1 since Joël Fréchet in 1981.

A year later, on 2 October 2024, Bouaddi became one of the youngest Lille players to start in a UEFA Champions League match, playing on his 17th birthday in a 1–0 home win against Real Madrid in the 2024–25 league phase. He started alongside captain Benjamin André after a combination of injuries, suspension and eligibility issues left Lille short of midfielders. After the final whistle, Lille ultras sang Joyeux Anniversaire (French for "Happy Birthday to You") with the players for Bouaddi when celebrating the win.

On 5 December 2025, Bouaddi signed a contract extension with Lille until June 2029. In January 2026, he became the youngest player to make 50 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille, breaking the record previously held by Eden Hazard.

Manchester City On 26 August 2026, Premier League club Manchester City signed Bouaddi for a reported £85.6m on a five-year contract. He made his debut on 28 August 2026, in a league match against Crystal Palace.

International career France Bouaddi has been part of France’s youth setup at various levels, including the under-21 side, which he captained.

Morocco On 15 May 2026, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced that FIFA had approved their request to switch Bouaddi's international allegiance to Morocco. On 26 May, he was named in Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He made his FIFA World Cup debut in the opening match against Brazil, which ended in a 1–1 draw. In the quarter-finals against France, he became the first African teenage player to make five World Cup appearances, achieving the milestone at the age of 18 years and 280 days.

Style of play Bouaddi is a versatile midfielder known for his composure under pressure, accurate passing, and confidence in carrying the ball. Primarily a holding midfielder, he is capable of dictating play from deep and can also play at right-back.

Career statistics Club