City reaches agreement to sign Bouadima

English club Manchester City is close to signing young Moroccan player Ayoub El Kaabi, after reaching an agreement with French club Lille, according to media reports today.

Monte Carlo Radio, via its website, reported that Lille will receive a record fee of 100 million euros, including bonuses and incentives, upon completion of the deal, with El Kaabi set to sign a long-term contract with City.

El Kaabi delivered standout performances for the Moroccan national team during the World Cup, starting in five of the six matches Morocco played on their run to the quarter-finals. He had previously attracted significant attention on the European scene after featuring in Lille’s victory over Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League in 2024.

El Kaabi operates as a deep-lying playmaker who controls the tempo of the game. If the transfer is officially completed, he will be a strong addition to the English club’s midfield alongside Elliott Anderson, who joined Manchester City this summer. Anderson excels as a box-to-box midfielder and also plays as a defensive midfielder for the England national team.

El Kaabi has made 88 appearances for Lille since his debut for the club in October 2023, contributing to the team’s third-place finish in the French league last season.