Ayyoub Bouaddi marked his first start for Manchester City with a display of maturity that belied his 18 years, playing a pivotal role in the club’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Porto. At 18 years and 341 days old, the midfielder became the fourth-youngest player to ever start a match in this competition for the English side.
City secured the teenager’s services from Lille for £86m this summer, a deal that established him as the most expensive teenager in the history of the Premier League. Following a standout performance for Morocco at the World Cup, the club moved quickly to sign him, dismissing early speculation that he would be loaned back to France for the season.
The midfielder’s impact in Portugal was statistically dominant. He completed 54 of his 55 attempted passes and led all players on the pitch in several key metrics, including four successful dribbles, seven possessions won, and 13 contested duels. His composure in the center of the park offered an early glimpse of how he might fill the void left by Rodri.
Manager Enzo Maresca praised the youngster’s temperament, noting that Bouaddi remains calm even under pressure in tight spaces. “He is different in how mature he is,” Maresca said, highlighting the player’s ability to speak multiple languages and his seamless integration into the squad. “This is why the club has made the effort for him to be with us.”
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin, speaking on Radio 5 Live, described the performance as a “no-brainer” for the club. “His age, his game – he looks absolutely born to do it,” Nevin remarked, adding that the midfielder is a “class act” who does not look out of place on the biggest stage.
Erling Haaland, who scored both goals in the victory, echoed the positive sentiment regarding his new teammate. “The last couple of weeks in training, he has been amazing. I think we have got a gem there, to be honest,” the striker said. However, Haaland also offered a playful critique of the teenager’s decision-making, jokingly noting his frustration that Bouaddi failed to play him through on goal during the second half.
The performance served as a reminder of why City’s leadership is confident that Bouaddi possesses the necessary attributes to develop into a world-class talent. Having previously impressed against Real Madrid during his time at Lille, the midfielder appears to have settled into the City setup immediately, proving that the significant investment in his potential is already yielding results. The report also notes that but it was Bouaddi who caught the eye with a tidy and assured performance in the middle of the park, signalling early signs that Rodri may not be too sorely missed after his departure, erling Haaland will take the plaudits for his two goals. The report also notes that he looks very special, i cannot take my eyes off Bouaddi. The report also notes that maresca hails ‘fantastic’ 18-year-old signing Bouaddi. The report also notes that but Bouaddi seems to have settled in immediately and showcased why he will be a valuable option this season, question marks were raised around the size of the fee for a position on the pitch where players can be exposed. The report also notes that he lost two balls and after that he was inside our box and calm, against Coventry. The report also notes that he speaks French, English, Spanish perfect.
