David Tully Sep 14th 2025
Man United are keeping tabs on Lille holding midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, according to reports.
TEAMtalk claim that the Red Devils are one of several teams who have sent scouts to watch “one of the hottest teenage properties” in European football.
Bouaddi will turn 18 next month so he will be able to make the move to the Premier League during the January transfer window.
The teenager made 36 appearances for Lille last season despite his young age, and he has continued to be a regular starter since the 2025/26 campaign began.
Man United will have plenty of competition for the player
In addition to the Red Devils, it is believed that Arsenal, Liverpool and AC Milan have also sent observers to keep an eye on Bouaddi’s progress.
Brighton, Tottenham and Aston Villa are among the other clubs who have shown an interest in the France Under 21 international.
Milan are said to be the team keenest to make an offer for Bouaddi, so if Ruben Amorim’s side do want to snap up the youngster, they will need to ensure that they are not beaten to the punch by their Italian rivals.
What do fans need to know about Bouaddi?
The midfielder progressed through the youth ranks at Lille, having made his first-team debut in a Conference League fixture against KI Klaksvik in October 2023. He made his first league appearance versus Stade Brestois a couple of weeks later.
Bouaddi got most of his starts in Europe and the French Cup during the 2023/24 campaign, but he managed to establish himself as a starter in Ligue One back in November last year.
Although the Frenchman can be deployed in a more advanced midfield role, he is most comfortable as a no.6 or no.8, which means he’d be suitable for Amorim’s double pivot in the middle of the park.
Read more about the Manchester United First Team Squad for 2025/26 here
David Tully
David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World’s Football News Network.
