Manchester City are considering converting Ayyoub Bouaddi into a right-back if they complete a move for the Lille midfielder, according to The Athletic’s Sam Lee.
The 18-year-old has been described as a “very talented but also raw midfielder,” with City weighing up whether his profile could translate to right-back under incoming head coach Enzo Maresca. The idea has gained traction given City’s difficulty finding a long-term solution in that position this summer.
City remain undecided on the structure of a potential deal. Officials have discussed loaning Bouaddi back to Lille for the 2026-27 season to continue his development, while also considering keeping him at the Etihad and finding a pathway into Maresca’s squad immediately. Lille are said to be holding out for around £70m, with a preference for any sale to include a season-long loan.
Bouaddi has been in outstanding form for Morocco at the World Cup, helping his country reach the last 16, and is also attracting interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. City are already working on a second midfield addition alongside the club-record deal for Elliot Anderson, and Bouaddi’s versatility is seen as a point in his favour given Hugo Viana’s search for adaptable options across the squad.
