Ayyoub Bouaddi’s departure could challenge Lille’s Nicolas Pépé transfer record

There’s very little doubt that Ayyoub Bouaddi (18) will be one of the most sought-after talents in French football in the summer, with European powerhouses expected to compete for his signature as they try to secure a prodigious talent. 

Teams like Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, and Manchester United have all been linked in previous reports with the teenager. With this in mind, L’Équipe writes that Bouaddi’s departure could very well challenge Lille OSC’s largest-ever sale, a record that was set in 2019 when Arsenal bought Nicolas Pépé for €80m. 

As the French outlet explains, like with the sale of Leny Yoro to Manchester United, Lille’s president, Olivier Létang, isn’t afraid to take a bullish approach in transfers to get the best price. With French football still in the grips of a financial crisis, they are well aware of the value of an asset like Bouaddi. 

In the meantime, another bidding war over the future of the midfielder is taking place simultaneously, with France and Morocco both competing for Bouaddi’s, as of yet undecided, international allegiance.