City Lands Bouaddi: PSG Missed Record €100M Transfer

Manchester City announced the record-breaking transfer of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille on August 26, 2026, for a fee of €100 million. This move occurred despite persistent rumors linking the 19-year-old Moroccan international with Paris Saint-Germain for many months. However, reports indicate that PSG was never close to signing Bouaddi.

The decision-makers at Paris Saint-Germain, specifically the Luis Campos-Luis Enrique partnership, had determined early in the spring of 2026 that their midfield was sufficiently deep with talent. They did not intend to recruit further in that position during the last summer transfer window.

Key midfielders like Joao Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, Warren Zaire-Emery, Senny Mayulu, Dro Fernandez, and Lucas Beraldo are all under contract until at least June 2028. Desire Doue and Maghnes Akliouche also provide additional midfield options. The message was clear: no midfield signing was needed in the 2026 summer transfer window.

While the possibility of a future move for Bouaddi was not ruled out, with PSG intending to monitor his progress, reports suggest Manchester City was the player's priority. The two clubs are set to face each other in the Champions League on Wednesday.