FootyRecall Player Profiles
Ayyoub Bouaddi: City's shape-shifter, not their new Rodri
Manchester City are using their 18-year-old midfielder to change the first build-up line, not to imitate Rodri.
- Club
- Manchester City
- Position
- Defensive/central midfielder
- Age
- 18
The player and the role
City are not grooming a teenage imitation of Rodri. They are testing a midfielder who can alter the first build-up line. At Porto, Bouaddi worked beside Enzo Fernández in a double pivot. He could drop to help circulation or move above Enzo to receive behind the first presser. Against Norwich, the rotation became clearer: Bouaddi moved into the left centre-back space as Nico O'Reilly advanced, giving City a three-against-two base and freeing both full-backs to move inside.
At a glance
- 98/103
- Passes completed
- Against Norwich
- 95%
- Pass completion
- At Porto
- 384
- World Cup minutes
- Morocco's quarter-final run
How they play
Bouaddi scans, receives side-on, attracts pressure and escapes it before releasing the next player. Norwich supplied the cleanest proof. He completed 98 of 103 passes, created two chances and assisted once as City shifted between a 3-1-6 and 2-2-5-1. At Porto he completed 95% of his passes and won every tackle. His value was positional: he changed height without breaking the structure.
What the numbers tell us
There is no honest league peer ranking after 22 minutes. City's useful sample is the 165 minutes across two cup and European starts, where Bouaddi completed both tactical assignments and made one assist. The controlled opportunities matter more than a false percentile.
How the role has evolved
He started 28 Ligue 1 games for Lille, then played 384 minutes in Morocco's World Cup quarter-final run. Against Brazil, he completed 60 of 66 passes, including all 16 attempted into the final third, and won nine duels. Few 18-year-old midfielders arrive with that tactical mileage.
The season in context
2026/272026/27 Premier League: 22 minutes, no starts, 0 goals, 0 assists.
2025/262025/26 Lille, Ligue 1: 30 appearances, 28 starts, 2,320 minutes, 0 goals, 1 assist, 85.3% pass completion.
Cups & Europe2026/27: 75 Champions League minutes and 90 EFL Cup minutes across two starts, with 1 assist. 2025/26: ten Europa League appearances and two Coupe de France appearances, with 0 goals.
How they compare
League comparisons use the same FPL position and players within two years of age, with at least 180 minutes this season or 900 last season. Other measures identify their provider or competition below.
- Below floor
- Current league comparison
- 22 minutes
- The current peer-ranking floor is 180 league minutes.
- 88th percentile
- Successful dribbles
- 2025/26 big-five midfielders
- ScoutLab recorded 1.31 successful dribbles per 90.
Where they can improve
ScoutLab's 2025/26 big-five-league comparison put him at 1.31 successful dribbles per 90, in the 88th percentile, but rated his progression through passing much lower. He advances play through receiving, turning and carrying more than quarterback distribution. City may therefore pair him with a more penetrative passer.
What we’re watching next
His first league start against an aggressive press will be the real promotion test. Watch whether he drops into defence or stays above the first wave.