Rodri Hernández is no longer a Manchester City player. The midfielder signed with FC Barcelona during this transfer window.

After several seasons as a key player, his departure marked a turning point for the English club.

Losing the winner of the 2024 'Ballon d'Or' presents a major challenge for Manchester City.

The man who led them to Champions League glory in 2023 bade farewell in recent days.

However, the Manchester team has acted quickly and has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement to sign his replacement.

Who has been chosen to take over?

In this regard, the player selected to take up the midfield role is none other than Ayyoub Bouaddi.

The 18-year-old midfielder, who plays for LOSC Lille, has established himself as one of the standout performers for the Moroccan national team at the 2026 World Cup.

During the World Cup, Bouaddi played in high-pressure matches against powerhouses such as Brazil and France, demonstrating a competitive maturity beyond his years.

Ayyou Bouaddi’s World Cup statistics

  • Matches: 5

  • Minutes: 384

  • Shots: 3

  • Tackles won: 36

  • Accurate passes: 225

  • Sprints: 166

  • Dribbles: 81

In fact, reports from transfer market experts suggest that an agreement has already been reached between the Moroccan footballer and the English club.

There is talk of a deal worth over 100 million euros.

Physical and technical similarities between Bouaddi and Rodri

The Moroccan’s footballing attributes fit perfectly with Manchester City’s style of play.

Bouaddi, who was nominated for the 2025 Kopa Trophy, displays similar traits to those that made Rodri the linchpin of the midfield.

An analysis of his profile reveals why the club’s sporting management considers him the ideal candidate to replace the Spanish international.

Physically, the Franco-Moroccan midfielder stands out for his impressive height (Bouaddi is 1.85m tall, compared to Rodri’s 1.90m) and his ability to cover ground.

Like Rodri, he uses his body effectively to shield the ball from opposition pressure and win one-on-one duels.

His stride allows him to cover a large area of the pitch, intercept passes and cover the space behind the central midfielders without having to exert himself excessively.

Technically speaking, Bouaddi’s greatest strength is his precision in distribution. He possesses excellent game reading, which allows him to direct possession towards areas with fewer opponents.

He shows reliability in receiving the ball with his back to play, turning fluidly and linking up with the forwards via vertical passes that break through defensive lines, much like Rodri Hernández.

Furthermore, he maintains a high success rate with short passes, an essential attribute for sustaining the possession-based style that characterises City’s play.

For all these reasons, signing him could be an ideal move in this transfer window, given Rodri’s possible departure.

Will Bouaddi join Manchester City?

The coming hours will be crucial in determining the outcome of the deal.