Manchester City have completed the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi for £85million, making the 18-year-old the fifth most expensive teenager in world football. The French midfielder, who holds a mathematics degree, arrives at the Etihad after an impressive World Cup campaign.
Academics and Early Career
Bouaddi gained a degree in mathematics from the University of Marseille while playing for Lille, more than 1,000km to the north. He passed his science degree with honours as an undergraduate at the age of 16, despite skipping school for 12 months during a childhood on the outskirts of Paris.
He also won a national public speaking competition among French football academies at the Elysee Palace, in front of Brigitte Macron, wife of French president Emmanuel Macron.
Record-Breaking Football Achievements
On the pitch, Bouaddi became the youngest player in the history of UEFA club competitions in 2023, debuting for Lille against KI Klaksvik at age 16. He is the youngest player in Lille's history and the second youngest to provide an assist in Ligue 1.
Following an impressive World Cup this summer, he became the first African teenager to make five appearances in the competition. His debut came against Brazil, where he ran the show from start to finish.
City Ambitions and Guardiola Admiration
Bouaddi said: "I think it was the right time. I felt good in Lille, but felt it was the right moment to come to City. The right thing to do. I'd say I'm a player who plays for the team. I'm a really collective player. I try to put my team-mate in the best position, and give everything every time for the team."
He added: "I grew up with Manchester City under Guardiola. When he arrived and what he did was just amazing. But then we know that City is one of the greatest clubs in the world with the best players, best team, the campus. Everything is done to perform here and do the best. I liked to watch Kevin De Bruyne, also Yaya Toure and Rodri. A lot of great players have been at City. I can't tell you all of the players that I watched at City, there is too many."
Premier League Challenge
With the hefty price tag comes expectation, but Bouaddi is ready to meet the challenge head on. He said: "I think the Premier League is the most attractive and most competitive championship in the world. And we know that in the great club we need to win. We are going to see what's going to happen. What's important is that I'm going to give 100 per cent to achieve all of our goals."
