Speaking at a press conference on Friday, July 31, to introduce the club’s two new signings and announce a contract extension, Létang addressed several topics, including the future of the young Moroccan midfielder, who has been repeatedly linked with Manchester City.
The Lille president first denied reports suggesting an agreement had already been reached with the Premier League giants.
“It’s quite surprising to see how some rumors gather momentum. An imminent agreement with a club that plays in a light blue jersey... That’s simply not true. The only reality today is that he is 100% a Lille player,” he said.
Létang did, however, acknowledge that Bouaddi has attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
“There is indeed interest from some very, very big clubs. But very few can afford him. I said last time that I believed Ayyoub would stay with us, and I still hold that position. At this stage, nothing has changed.”
“Ayyoub Bouaddi is a very important player for us. He still has three years left on his contract,” he added, underlining the midfielder’s importance to the squad.
The Lille president also insisted that Bouaddi has shown no desire to leave the club.
“I’ll repeat what I said last time. We have the privilege of playing in the biggest club competition in the world, the Champions League, and he is an important player for us. We speak regularly with Bouaddi. He isn’t impatient, nor does he want to leave. He’s very happy here as well.”
Ayyoub Bouaddi
For Létang, remaining at Lille is currently the best option for the player’s development.
“When you’re 18 and playing for a club like Lille, where you have the opportunity to feature in a significant number of matches, including the Champions League, it’s natural to ask why you would leave now. I’ll let him speak for himself when the time comes.”
Asked whether Lille would reject a €100 million offer for Bouaddi, Létang suggested that no player is completely untouchable.
“No, I think we have to be realistic. There are figures at which it would be a mistake not to consider a transfer. But any transfer involves three parties: the two clubs and the player. The player’s wishes are also important. That said, my conversations with Ayyoub Bouaddi will remain confidential.”
Bouaddi started five of Morocco’s six matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the quarter-final defeat to France (2-0).
The 18-year-old made his professional debut for Lille in the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023. At just 16 years and three days old, he became the youngest player ever to appear in the competition.
