Arsenal have intensified their efforts to sign a. bouaddi this summer, with Paris Saint-Germain still in the race. The Lille midfielder has a slight preference for PSG, but Arsenal believe their relationship with Lille president Olivier Létang can help swing the deal.
Lille’s €70 million stance
LOSC want around €70 million to let the 18-year-old leave, a figure that would put the move at about £60m. Bouaddi has already made 96 senior appearances for Lille, including 42 in the 2025/26 campaign, so any bid would be for a player who has already handled a heavy workload at senior level.
That price creates the first real hurdle for Arsenal. They are not a direct competitor of LOSC in France, and that has become part of the case for a sale abroad if the financial terms are strong enough.
Arteta’s role at Arsenal
Arsenal’s pitch has been built around Mikel Arteta’s plans for him next season, with the message that he would be an important player resonating with the Morocco international. Bouaddi is also set to feature for Morocco at the World Cup, which adds another layer to a move that would place him in a stronger spotlight.
Fabrizio Romano said Arsenal will also be busy in midfield during this transfer window and that there is a lot happening behind the scenes. He also said Arsenal expect Arteta to sign a new contract and continue at the club, which would keep the manager central to any push for Bouaddi.
PSG and the transfer race
PSG still have a slight edge in Bouaddi’s thinking, but Arsenal are pressing hard enough to keep the race open. The balance now sits between PSG’s pull, Lille’s valuation and Arsenal’s attempt to use their relationship with Létang to take the midfielder out of France rather than hand him to a domestic rival.
For Arsenal, the transfer now looks less like a simple pursuit and more like a test of whether goodwill, timing and a major offer can beat PSG to one of the summer’s most closely watched midfield targets.
