Maresca reveals Bouaddi’s special quality that made him worth €95m to Man City

9 Sept 2026 12:36 BST | 4 min read

Marc Guehi, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Man City, 2026/27 — © IMAGO

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

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Manchester City made Ayyoub Bouaddi the most expensive teenager in Premier League history when they signed him for €95 million this summer from Lille, and Enzo Maresca has explained why they were willing to spend so much on an 18-year-old.

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Bouaddi was handed his first start for City in the Champions League against Porto on Tuesday, with the Morocco international anchoring the midfield in a 2-0 victory.

Hs overall performance level was formidable, with the France-born World Cup star winning widespread praise for his immediate impact.

Current ETV

Ayyoub Bouaddi

M, DM (C)

Man City

Ayyoub Bouaddi

M, DM (C)

Man City

ETV Range

€40.1M - €66.8M

“His age, his game - he looks absolutely born to do it,” said BBC Sport pundit Pat Nevin during the game.

“I cannot take my eyes off Bouaddi, he looks very special… Bouaddi is an absolute no-brainer. He is brilliant. You get him at that age and you don't think he might work, he is a class act.”

© Manchester City - Ayyoub Bouaddi, Man City

Enzo Maresca and Haaland hail Bouaddi

Following the game, Enzo Maresca explained the qualities that Manchester City were so impressed by in the teenager, persuading them to spend close to €100m to sign the teenager.

“That’s why he’s here with us. He speaks fluent French, English, and Spanish. He stands out for his maturity, and that’s why the club made the effort to bring him here,” Maresca explained.

“He’s very good, first and foremost. Against Coventry, he lost possession twice, but after those two turnovers, he calmly found himself in our box. That shows how good he is, because any other player would have panicked after two passes, but he’s only 18 and he’s a fantastic player.

“Against Porto, he was very good. You expect Erling, Ruben Dias, and Mateo Kovacic to handle these kinds of matches better, but you don’t expect it from an 18-year-old. I didn’t see him panic.”

Erling Haaland also had praise for his young colleague.

“To be honest, I think he should have played me through in the second half when I was all alone. I was a bit annoyed, so I'll tell him right now: he had a good game, except for that pass,” the striker, who netted both of City’s goals, explained.

Could City’s midfield hierarchy be shaken up?

Elliot Anderson was the player to make way for Bouaddi in the heart of the midfield and could be the player put under pressure from the former Lille player in the weeks ahead.

As City’s record signing, the England star will retain the faith of the management for the immediate future, but this was a nice nod to him that Bouaddi may be young, but he is ready to take his place should his form dip.

With a midfield assembled at extravagant expense, City have proven that they have both strength and depth, and with that there will be no room for slacking.