Rodri is set to depart for Manchester City to complete his move to Barcelona. Manchester City’s midfield general will get his move back to Spain, which he has desired. David Ornstein has reported for The Athletic that Barcelona will pay £65 million plus £10 million in add-ons to sign Rodri. Rodri’s imminent departure does look to have paved the way for City to finally complete their move to sign Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. One big departure looks to have paved the way for Manchester City to kick on with the process of bolstering their midfield.
Manchester City are set to secure the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.
Following on from the news that Rodri is set to get his move to Barcelona Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on Manchester City’s bid to sign Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Romano reports that City will now secure the signing of Bouaddi from Lille. Furthermore, Romano reports that Bouaddi will join Enzo Maresca’s squad this summer and will not be loaned back to Lille for the 2026-27 season.
The domino’s are falling as City bid to bolster their midfield.
With the transfer window set to close in two weeks, it always looked like a busy time for Manchester City. They have needed players to depart to set the wheels in motion. Tijjani Reijnders and Rodri are on their way and it now looks like midfield reinforcements will come in.
Based on Fabrizio Romano’s latest report Ayyoub Bouaddi is set to join Enzo Maresca’s squad imminently. The 18-year-old looks set to be the player that can partner Elliot Anderson in City’s midfield. Ayyoub Bouaddi thrives playing as a holding midfielder and his performances for Lille and Morocco have him earmarked as one of the more exciting young midfielders in European football. Provided that City sign him, all indications are that they will, Enzo Maresca’s squad will be immediately strengthened.
Rodri’s imminent departure looks set to have set City’s midfield rebuild in motion. That has always threatened to be the case. Ayyoub Bouaddi looks set to sign for City from Lille. The sooner that deal is complete, the better. That way Hugo Viana and company can move to further bolster Enzo Maresca’s squad. It is a process that must be done. There is no other alternative for City.