{"id":248673,"date":"2026-06-16T19:45:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T19:45:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/16\/better-than-bouaddi-arsenal-have-been-in-talks-for-weeks-to-sign-85m-star\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T19:45:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T19:45:14","slug":"better-than-bouaddi-arsenal-have-been-in-talks-for-weeks-to-sign-85m-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/16\/better-than-bouaddi-arsenal-have-been-in-talks-for-weeks-to-sign-85m-star\/","title":{"rendered":"Better than Bouaddi: Arsenal have been in talks “for weeks” to sign \u00a385m star"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Signing a player based on their World Cup<\/a> performances is very rarely a good idea but it was hard for Arsenal<\/a> not to sit up and take notice of Ayyoub Bouaddi’s performance for Morocco last weekend.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The 18-year-old, who plays for Lille in France, dominated a pitch featuring some of the greatest players of this generation.<\/p>\n

\n
\n \n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Bouaddi ran rings around Casemiro, around Fabinho, around Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta. He probably should have won the official player of the match award over Vini Junior too.<\/p>\n

Alas, the Morrocan will have to wait for a personal accolade. The wait for a big move, however, may not be far away. The Gunners are one of a host of teams interested in the teenager but he is not the only midfielder on their radar.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n Arsenal in talks to sign big-money Bouaddi alternative<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Before the World Cup had even got underway, Arsenal’s interest in the young midfielder was well known.<\/p>\n

Some reports a few weeks ago even suggested that a bid had been made to sign the Lille wonderkid<\/a> and while that has not been confirmed, talks have reportedly been ongoing since January to bring the player to the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Bouaddi vs Brazil<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

\n

Mins played<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

90<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Touches<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

87<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Accurate passes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

60\/66 (91%)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Successful dribbles<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3\/5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Tackles<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Clearances<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Recoveries<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ground duels won<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9\/14<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Fouled<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2x<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

Arsenal are not the only club interested. Liverpool have also held regular talks to sign the Moroccan and Chelsea are also making their own pitch<\/a> to bring him to England.<\/p>\n

The chase for Bouaddi’s signature is set to be hotly contested and the same can be said of Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

You scored<\/p>\n

out of 20<\/p>\n