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Arsenal ‘frontrunners’ to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi

By on June 22, 2026

Ayyoub Bouaddi

Arsenal are ‘frontrunners’ in the race to sign highly rated Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille this summer, according to Football Insider.

Bouaddi has been one of the most exciting young breakthroughs in Europe over the last two seasons.

Having progressed through the acclaimed academy at Lille, he made his senior debut at just 16 years and 3 days old in the UEFA Conference League against Faroese side KÍ Klaksvík on 5 October 2023, becoming the youngest player to feature in a European club competition at that time.

Since that landmark appearance, Bouaddi has made 96 appearances for Lille, establishing himself as a key figure in a side that has become a fixture in European competition in recent seasons.

Throughout the recently concluded season, the midfielder was a steady presence in the centre of Lille’s midfield, playing a key role as Lille OSC finished third in Ligue 1, securing direct qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The 18-year-old also attracted significant interest after a composed and tidy midfield display in Morocco’s opening World Cup fixtures against Brazil and Scotland.

Now, among the clubs looking to sign Bouaddi, Football Insider reports that Arsenal are the ‘front runners’ to sign the exciting midfielder.

‘Frontrunners’

Mikel Arteta is looking to add younger prospects to his squad this summer, and the club are acting proactively to sign the 18-year-old, having held talks to discuss his transfer to the Emirates Stadium, the report adds.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that Bouaddi has piqued the interest of several clubs with his performances in the ongoing World Cup, saying:

‘Look, 18 years old, playing in the World Cup against Brazil, he was outstanding.

‘Just what a top young talent he is. He has been talked about for a while now, having broken through at Lille.’

However, the Gunners are set to face stern competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool, Chelsea and Aston Villa in the race to sign the Moroccan, according to the report.

Still, O’Rourke confirmed that Mikel Arteta’s side are leading other rivals in the race to sign the France-born Moroccan international.

He added: ‘Arsenal are maybe at the front of the queue for Bouaddi. They’ve had talks with his agents.’

To avoid being trumped by other rivals, Arsenal will need to act proactively to close the deal with Lille, who are likely to demand a fee above Bouaddi’s £45m Transfermarkt valuation.