Manchester City reveals Ayyoub Bouaddi's squad number! (Official)

Signed for €100 million, the Moroccan inherits a midfield to rebuild after Rodri and González departures

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Manchester City reveals Ayyoub Bouaddi's squad number! (Official)

Made official this Wednesday, Ayyoub Bouaddi will wear the number 32 shirt and is tasked with restoring balance, control, and creativity to Manchester City's midfield.

It’s now official: Ayyoub Bouaddi has joined Manchester City. The Citizens have paid LOSC a fixed fee of €95 million, with an additional five million possible in bonuses. The 18-year-old Moroccan international has signed a five-year contract, tying him to the club until June 2031.

Officially presented this Wednesday, August 26, Bouaddi also discovered his new number. He’ll keep the 32 he wore at Lille, even though he plays with the number 6 for the Moroccan national team. The midfielder could join Enzo Maresca’s squad as early as Friday for the trip to Crystal Palace.

A signing that became essential

Spending up to €100 million on such a young player is a significant gamble, but reinforcing the midfield had become an absolute necessity. Rodri has joined FC Barcelona, while Nico González has moved to Newcastle. These departures have left the squad severely lacking in central options.

This shortage was already evident during the hard-fought win over Bournemouth (2-1). Maresca deployed centre-back Marc Guéhi as a defensive midfielder alongside Elliott Anderson, with Nico O’Reilly playing in a more advanced role. The experiment paid off with a victory, but it also highlighted the urgent need for a specialist in the middle of the park.

A profile to secure ball progression

Bouaddi’s first mission will be to bring composure under pressure. Technically gifted, he is adept at making himself available in front of the defence, directing play, and retaining possession in tight spaces. His work rate and positional intelligence can also help City close down central channels after losing the ball.

In Maresca’s system, the Moroccan could form a highly complementary double pivot with Elliott Anderson. Anderson offers more power in forward runs, while Bouaddi can orchestrate the build-up and control the tempo. He won’t be a carbon copy of Rodri, but he has the qualities needed to gradually become the new linchpin for the Sky Blues.

Massive expectations after the 2026 World Cup

The price demanded by Lille is also explained by Bouaddi’s breakout performances at the 2026 World Cup. Starting five of Morocco’s six matches as they reached the quarter-finals, he showed remarkable maturity on the world’s biggest stage. He leaves LOSC with 96 professional appearances—an exceptional tally for a player his age.

The Premier League, however, will demand even more intensity and far less time on the ball. Manchester City cannot expect him to immediately replicate everything Rodri brought to the side. Still, Bouaddi arrives with a genuine chance to contribute right away, without needing a full season to adapt. His first challenge will be to make the midfield more cohesive, less vulnerable, and above all, much harder to press.