Man City complete £86m Bouaddi signing from Lille
Wednesday, 26 August 2026
Warm-up
- Which football team do you follow? Why do you like them?
- What makes a good midfielder in your opinion?
- Have you ever changed teams or clubs? How did it feel?
Vocabulary
- midfielder
- A player who plays in the middle of the pitch and links defence and attack.
- transfer
- The move of a player from one club to another, usually for money.
- contract
- A legal agreement that says how long and on what terms someone works.
- clearance
- Official permission needed before something can happen.
- debut
- A person’s first public appearance or first game for a team.
- quarter-final
- A round in a competition with eight teams left.
- appearance
- One time a player takes part in a match for a team.
- add-on
- Extra payment that is paid later if certain things happen.
Reading
Manchester City have completed the transfer of Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for £85.6m. The 18-year-old signed a five-year contract, subject to international clearance.
City will pay £81.4m upfront plus £4.2m in add-ons. Enzo Maresca's side moved after selling midfielders Rodri to Barcelona for £65m and Tijjani Reinders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m.
Bouaddi shone at this summer's World Cup. He started five of Morocco's six games as they reached the quarter-finals. For Lille, he made 96 appearances after his 2023 debut.
City have already signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m. The club are set to make an offer for Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, valued at £120m. City are rebuilding their midfield this season.
Comprehension
- Which club signed Ayyoub Bouaddi?
- How much was Bouaddi’s transfer fee?
- How long is his Manchester City contract?
- How many World Cup games did Bouaddi start for Morocco?
- Which club did City buy Elliot Anderson from, and for how much?
Grammar focus
Some/any/much/many
Use 'some' in positive sentences, 'any' in questions or negatives. Use 'many' for countable plural and 'much' for uncountable amounts. Choose the word that fits the noun or sentence type. (Examples constructed.)
- Fans often buy **some** shirts after a big signing.
- There weren't **many** seats available for the friendly.
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each sentence.
- There aren't (many / much) seats left for the match.
- Did the club pay (some / any) of the fee yet?
- The club received (many / much) interest from buyers.
- Managers want (some / any) new players in the squad.
- The team didn't sign (some / any) players this week.
Discussion
- Is £85.6m too much for an 18-year-old? Why or why not?
- Which position is most important in football? Give a reason.
- What should a young player focus on at a new club?
- Do big transfer fees help a team win more matches?
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