Arsenal have held initial talks with Ayyoub Bouaddi’s camp as they consider whether to make a summer move, according to a report.
Ryan Taylor reports for Football.London that Arsenal are due to assess a possible move for Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi in the coming months, having already held initial talks with the player’s entourage.
Taylor stresses that there is currently no guarantee that Arsenal’s exploratory conversations will develop into something more, and Chelsea are also tracking the player.
But Taylor reports that sources close to the player have suggested it’s likely to be a straight shootout between Arsenal and PSG if both clubs decide to make a move.
The Gunners reportedly hold a “definite appreciation” for Bouaddi, who recently extended his contract. But even at the time of the extension it was believed that Lille were hoping to cash in on him in 2026.
Bouaddi himself told the media he’s focusing on the season with Lille, and then he’ll have a choice to make at the end of the campaign.
“I am focused on this season and we have things to fight for,” Bouaddi said in December. “As I also said to the president (Olivier Létang), at the end of the season, there will be a choice to be made, and anything can happen. We don’t know what will happen.”
Despite only being 18 years old, Bouaddi is already a nailed-on starter for Lille. He’s made 80 senior appearances for the club, including starting 16 of their first 20 Ligue 1 fixtures in 2025/26.
If Arsenal are looking to future-proof their midfield, signing Bouaddi would seemingly aid that cause.