Arsenal are actively working on a summer deal for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, hoping to beat Paris Saint-Germain to the signing.
Sacha Tavolieri reports for Sky Sports in Switzerland that Arsenal have identified 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi as a midfield target this summer, and they’ve been actively pursuing the player for several months now.
Tavolieri points out that Bouaddi is also attracting interest from Paris Saint-Germain, and that the player has previously suggested that interest is mutual. But Arsenal are determined to try and convince the player to move to the Premier League instead.
The Gunners have reportedly made it clear to Bouaddi and his camp that he’d be an important player in Mikel Arteta’s project from the moment he arrived, and that message seems to have resonated with the player. He’s now indicated an interest in joining Arsenal.
Further talks are scheduled for after the World Cup (where Bouaddi is competing with Morocco), with Arteta expected to be heavily involved.
Lille are looking for around €70m (£60.4m) for the signing, though Arsenal believe strong relationships with the French club’s hierarchy could help them in talks, particularly as they aren’t a domestic rival like PSG.
Ryan Taylor reported for Football.London in February that Arsenal had held initial talks with Bouaddi’s entourage, though at the time the report stressed that the Gunners’ exploratory conversations might not develop into anything more.
Taylor did claim at the time that if Arsenal and PSG both decided to make a move, they would likely be the only two clubs with a chance at doing a deal. Interest from the likes of Chelsea would seemingly be dismissed in that scenario.
Despite only being 18 years old, Bouaddi is already a nailed-on starter for Lille. He’s made 96 senior appearances for the club, including starting 28 of their 34 Ligue 1 fixtures in 2025/26.
If Arsenal are looking to future-proof their midfield, signing Bouaddi would seemingly aid that cause.
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