Manchester City spent the summer turning over their squad, and by the middle of August the pieces were clear. Enzo Maresca was in as head coach on a three-year deal, Elliot Anderson had arrived from Nottingham Forest, and Rodri was on his way to Barcelona.
The Bouaddi deal came next. On 17 August, BBC Sport reported that City were in advanced talks with Lille for Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Morocco midfielder, and wanted it done that week. Lille were said to value him at 100m euros (£85.6m). By 25 August the BBC described City’s move, for an initial £81.4m plus £4.2m in add-ons, as close to completion.
Bouaddi has played 88 times for Lille since his debut in October 2023, three days after his 16th birthday. He started five of Morocco’s six matches on their run to the World Cup quarter-finals, and Lille finished third in Ligue 1 last season. The BBC pictured him as a deep-lying conductor who would sit well beside Anderson, a box-to-box player.
City have not given up on Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez either, though Chelsea expect him to stay after their own deadline for bids passed. Maresca keeps a strong interest, sources said.
Savinho goes to Tottenham
Early July brought a different question. Readers put it to the Manchester Evening News in its weekly City Q&A: what happens on the wing if Savinho leaves?
Chief City writer Simon Bajkowski said Tottenham had picked up their interest in the Brazilian as soon as the last season ended, then spent heavily elsewhere. He did not think a left-footed winger was essential, since City won the Treble with Bernardo Silva on the right. He also thought a more central attacker could be signed, especially if Omar Marmoush were sold. Savinho, he wrote, had been happy to go to Tottenham the previous summer, and that had not changed.
It did happen. By 25 August the BBC reported that Tottenham had completed the signing.
Rodri to Barcelona
Rodri, the Spain captain and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, was set to complete a £65m move to Barcelona on a four-year contract, the BBC said on 17 August. He made 298 appearances for City after joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club-record £62.8m. A serious knee injury cost him much of the 2024-25 season. He was back at his best at the World Cup, leading Spain to their second global title and winning player of the tournament.
Anderson, meanwhile, was not due to join up until after England’s World Cup push, and could make his debut in the Community Shield against Arsenal on 16 August.
Sources
- Transfer latest: Savinho, Carlos Baleba, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Ollie Watkins, updates, gossip, rumours
- Man City move for £85m Bouaddi and still want Fernandez – AOL
- Ayyoub Bouaddi, Savinho and Rodri – Man City transfer questions answered
