Chelsea chase Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi

Chelsea have entered the race for Lille’s 18‑year‑old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the club eyeing the player ahead of Arsenal, Liverpool, Paris Saint‑Germain and Bayern Munich as his contract runs to summer 2029. The former Lille regular logged one assist in 42 matches across all competitions last season.

Bouaddi is described as a decent tackler who can win the ball back and an accurate passer who can also create occasional chances. He primarily operates as a box‑to‑box midfielder but can be deployed as a defensive midfielder if required.

At 18, Bouaddi is considered one of the most gifted central midfielders in Ligue 1, and his future appears promising if he continues to improve each year. Observers note he will need time to adapt to Premier League life before manager Xabi Alonso can extract his best performance.

Chelsea will face rivals Arsenal, Liverpool, Paris Saint‑Germain and Bayern Munich for his signature this summer. His contract with Lille runs until 2029, which could hinder a low‑cost acquisition in the current transfer window.

If signed, Bouaddi would add quality and depth to Xabi Alonso’s midfield at Stamford Bridge, potentially earning a regular first‑team role in the coming seasons. The Blues view him as a long‑term investment rather than an immediate starter.

A photo from 27 November 2024 shows Bouaddi playing for LOSC Lille in a UEFA Champions League 2024/25 group‑stage match against Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. The image was captured by photographer Alessandro Sabattini.