The profile
Ayyoub Bouaddi was born on 2 October 2007 in Senlis, France, and stands 186 cm tall — an imposing frame for a midfielder still two decades from his peak. What makes that height more striking is the age attached to it: Bouaddi is 18 years old and already a fixture at one of Ligue 1's most consistently ambitious clubs.
This season, the numbers tell a straightforward story of trust earned. Bouaddi has made 30 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille, adding 10 outings in the UEFA Europa League, 2 in the Coupe de France, and 2 in friendly fixtures — 44 appearances across all competitions in total. For a player of his age, that volume of first-team football at this level is notable. He contributed 1 assist across those 44 appearances, a modest attacking return that reflects the unglamorous, positional work a No. 6 is primarily asked to do.
The Morocco question
Bouaddi holds French nationality and was born in France, but carries Morocco's shirt number 6 in the national team setup. He has made 0 appearances for Morocco this season, meaning his international future remains an open chapter. Should he commit and qualify under FIFA eligibility rules, he would bring the kind of composed, high-volume club experience that a midfield anchor role demands at international level.
For now, the focus is Lille, where the minutes are already coming thick and fast. At 18, he has time — and this season's workload suggests the coaches around him believe the same.