Lille chairman Olivier Letang has sent a clear warning to Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich over the cost of signing teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, suggesting the price will exceed recent big-money transfers.
Bouaddi shines at World Cup
The 18-year-old has been a key figure for Morocco at the World Cup, starting four matches including two knockout victories against Netherlands and Canada. Morocco has reached the quarter-finals, continuing their impressive run from the previous tournament.
Bouaddi has already made nearly 100 senior appearances for Lille over two seasons, establishing himself as a first-team regular at a very young age.
Letang sets high price tag
Speaking to Eurosport, Letang indicated that Bouaddi will command a fee comparable to the £116m Manchester City paid for Elliot Anderson and the £100m Tottenham spent on Sandro Tonali this summer.
“Many clubs are interested in him, but very few can afford him right now,” Letang said. “He’s already one of the best midfielders in the world and still has significant room for improvement. He’s only 18 and has his whole future ahead of him. He’s focused on continuing to develop and winning everything.”
Previous reports suggested Lille were seeking between £69m and £89m, but Letang dismissed those figures. Asked if they were accurate, he replied: “How to answer that question… Have I spoken, brought up the subject, given a figure? No, never.”
Comparisons to elite stars
Letang compared Bouaddi to some of the biggest names in sport and beyond. “Having worked with him for over three years, I can say he’s an extraordinary young man, unique in every way,” he said. “He belongs among the true sportsmen like Victor Wembanyama, Paul Seixas, Leon Marchand, or Kylian Mbappe.”
He added: “I could mention Rodri, Sergio Busquets, (Johan) Cruyff, (Albert) Einstein, (Lothar) Matthaus, etc. But Ayyoub is unique and is himself, so he shouldn’t be compared.”
Impact on interested clubs
The warning places Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich in a difficult position, as they would need to break their transfer records to secure Bouaddi. With the midfielder still only 18 and under contract at Lille, the French club holds all the leverage in negotiations.
