Who is Ayyoub Bouaddi? Lille teenager linked with Liverpool transfer

Ayyoub Bouaddi has emerged as one of the hottest midfield prospects in world soccer, and a host of top clubs are said to be lining up to sign the French teenager

Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille(Image: 2025 Franco Arland)

Liverpool is reportedly among the clubs interested in signing Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is regarded as one of the hottest midfield prospects in the world.

Manchester United and Chelsea are also said to be keen, with CaughtOffside reporting that almost every club in Europe is lining up to sign a player who is described as a "generational talent".

Bouaddi has lined up in the majority of Lille's games this season after making his first-team debut more than two years ago, just three days after turning 16. It is claimed that Liverpool view Bouaddi as a "player for the next 10 years," while it is suggested that Chelsea could lodge a bid of around $53 million to $59 million in January.

Who is Ayyoub Bouaddi?

Bouaddi came through AFC Creil's youth system in France before moving to Lille in 2021. On 5 October 2023, Bouaddi became the youngest-ever player to appear in a European club competition, as well as the youngest-ever player to appear for Lille, when he played in a Europa League game against KÍ Klaksvík.

Since then, he has gone on to establish himself as a key player for Lille, receiving plaudits from experienced teammates like Olivier Giroud and Thomas Meunier.

In an interview with Media Carré in September, Giroud said of Bouaddi: "There's a 21-year age gap between Ayyoub and me, he's a great guy on and off the pitch. Wow, he blew me away. He's the one who amazes me the most on a daily basis, even if there are other good young players.

"The maturity he has, the thinking... Me, at 17, I was in the U19 national league, I was light years away from that.

Bouaddi is contracted to Lille until 2029(Image: AFP or licensors)

"I call him my little one, but he is already a big boy, very mature, with extraordinary values. I really wish him a great career because he is a beautiful person in addition to being a top player."

Meunier also hailed Bouaddi's maturity, saying: “He is one of a kind. Ayyoub is a very clean guy. That’s what I also like about him: he doesn’t make a fuss, you don’t hear him talk, you don’t hear him complain.

"These are the kind of young people we want to have on a team. He also pulls the other young people behind him, still smiling. If he doesn’t get injured, I think it’s going to be difficult to dislodge a kid like Ayyoub, because he’s starting to have considerable importance in the group.

“He still has twenty years of career ahead of him. At this pace, it’s certain that he won’t last long in Lille!"

A scouting report by Goal last year described Bouaddi as the best talent to come out of the club since Eden Hazard, and praise doesn't come much higher than that.