Ayyoub Bouaddi may have just announced himself to the world at the perfect time for Arsenal.
The Lille midfielder starred for Morocco in their World Cup opener against Brazil and was arguably the best player on the pitch against a midfield containing Casemiro, Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta.
Everyone is talking about him now, but Arsenal are not late to the party. Andrea Berta has already been working on a potential deal to sign Bouaddi for months.
During recent talks, Bouaddi has made a clear indication to Arsenal about his stance.
Imagine you are Andrea Berta. Who is your top target for Arsenal in the summer transfer window?
Ayyoub Bouaddi has indicated he is interested in Arsenal transfer
Ayyoub Bouaddi’s performance against Brazil will only have strengthened Arsenal’s belief that he is worth chasing.
The teenager looked completely at home on the biggest stage, showing composure, intelligence and physical maturity well beyond his years.
That kind of display naturally attracts attention from across Europe. However, Arsenal were already well aware of his talent long before Morocco’s World Cup opener.
Fabrizio Romano has already revealed that direct contact has taken place between Arsenal and Bouaddi’s agents, and Sky-Sport.ch have now added more detail to the situation.
According to the report, Arsenal have been actively working on the deal for several months and have maintained regular contact with the player’s entourage since January 2025.
Paris Saint-Germain are also interested, and Bouaddi is said to have a slight preference for the French champions at this stage.
That has not stopped Arsenal from pushing.
The Gunners have reportedly made it clear to Bouaddi and those around him that he would be considered an important part of Mikel Arteta’s project immediately upon arrival.
Crucially, that message appears to have landed, with the player now said to have indicated that he is interested in the prospect of moving to Arsenal.
More talks are expected after the World Cup, with Arteta set to become even more involved in the discussions.
👀 NAME a BETTER midfield target for Arsenal than Ayyoub Bouaddi… I bet you CAN’T…
🌟 The 18-year-old looked so good vs Brazil's at the World Cup!
Arsenal should go all out to beat PSG to Ayyoub Bouaddi
This is exactly the type of transfer Arsenal should be trying to complete.
Bouaddi is still incredibly young, but he already looks like a midfielder who could develop into one of the best in Europe.
Lille want around €70 million (£60m), which is a massive fee for a player of his age (18), but performances like the one against Brazil show why the price is so high.
Arsenal also have a few factors working in their favour. They are not a domestic rival to Lille, and their strong relationship with club president Olivier Letang could help if negotiations become serious.
PSG will be difficult to beat, but Arsenal can offer Bouaddi something special too: Premier League football, a clear role in Arteta’s project and the chance to grow in one of the best young teams in the world.
If Berta can convince him to choose North London, this could be one of Arsenal’s most exciting signings of the summer.
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