Updated: 2 Jun 2026 11:06 BST |
4 min read
Arsenal have been told it will take an “extraordinary” transfer fee for Lille to consider selling highly-rated midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Bouaddi has developed a reputation as one of the most promising central midfielders in Europe after emerging through Lille’s famed youth system.
The 18-year-old has already made 96 appearances in all competitions for Les Dogues, who have qualified for next season’s Champions League after finishing third in Ligue 1 last term.
Such has been Bouaddi’s impressive form in France that Arsenal have now added him to their wishlist ahead of the summer transfer window opening on Monday 15 June, according to The Times.
A separate report from BBC Sport claims the Gunners are looking to sign a right-back, a flexible midfielder who can play as both a No. 6 and a No. 8 and also a left winger ahead of the 2026-27 season.
However, Lille president Olivier Letang has said the club will only allow Bouaddi to leave if they receive a massive offer for his services, saying €50million (£43.2m) is “not enough”.
In quotes carried by French publication RMC Sport, Letang said: “We’ll talk about it (transfer speculation) with Ayyoub. To be very sincere, it had also been the subject of our discussions. We have very, very, very regular exchanges with Ayyoub. The idea for us is to keep him.”
And when asked whether €50m would be enough to land Bouaddi, Letang added: “No, that’s not enough. When I say extraordinary it’s something extraordinary. Here we are far from the amount that would allow us to let Ayyoub go.
“Bouaddi has extended his contract until 2029, so he has three years left. He is 18 years old and he is sure to be a starter in a team that plays [in] the Champions League.”
Bouaddi will be hoping to shine at this summer’s World Cup after being included in Morocco’s 26-man squad for the tournament, which gets under way on Thursday, 11 June when co-hosts Mexico face South Africa.
Arteta urges Arsenal board to strengthen ahead of 2026-27 campaign
Meanwhile manager Mikel Arteta called on the Arsenal board to invest heavily in the playing squad following their heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.
“We’ll start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level,” the Spaniard told the media after last Saturday’s final in Budapest.
“And we’re going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it’s going to demand us to be very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”
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