‘A boy but looks like a man’ – Arsenal rival Chelsea for Wayne Rooney-esque teenager who is Premier League ready

Jan 4, 2026 - 11:00

Arsenal and Chelsea have been told that teenage target Ayyoub Bouaddi is ready now to start in the Premier League.

That is the verdict from European football broadcaster Andy Brassell, who claimed ‘there is a bit of that Wayne Rooney feel’ for the 18-year-old Lille starlet.

Ayyoub Bouaddi in action for Lille — Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi is being chased by some of Europe’s top clubs

Ayyoub Bouaddi to Arsenal

Arsenal and Chelsea are among the clubs keeping tabs on the teenager, as revealed by talkSPORT earlier this month.

The Gunners have made the most concrete enquiry from England in Bouaddi, but face stiff competition from Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG are more than aware of the France Under-21 international, who played the full 90 minutes in Lille’s 1-1 draw with Luis Enrique’s side in October.

Style of play

Bouaddi garnered worldwide attention when he helped Lille beat Real Madrid in the Champions League on the night he turned 17 three months previously.

“He’s fantastic,” Trans Euro Express podcast co-host Brassell exclusively told talkSPORT.com.

“He’s not the same player as Wayne Rooney, obviously, but I think you get a little bit of that Wayne Rooney or Jude Bellingham feel for him.

“In terms of how he’s physically built, it says on his birth certificate that he’s a boy, but he looks like a man immediately.

“He’s someone who can really handle himself, someone who doesn’t give the ball away much, someone who can cover that space box-to-box, and he’s tactically disciplined.” Arsenal transfer target Ayyoub Bouaddi compared to Wayne Rooney and Jude Bellingham

Mikel Arteta greeting Wayne Rooney — Arteta is more than aware of how easily a teenage Rooney took to life in the Premier League

Who is Ayyoub Bouaddi?

The 6’1 midfielder was an ever-present fixture in Lille’s Ligue 1 side prior to receiving a red card in a 1-0 win over Le Havre last month.

Bouaddi has registered one assist in 14 league games to help his side into fourth, with five Europa League appearances as well.

In Ligue 1 this season, he ranks top for Lille midfielders for contests won, and second for both high-intensity runs and successful tackles.

Bouaddi, who joined the club’s academy aged 13 in 2021, has been tipped as Les Dogues’ best prospect since Eden Hazard.

He strengthened Lille’s negotiating power by extending his contract until 2029 earlier this month.

Ayyoub Bouaddi celebrates his contract extension at Lille — Bouaddi has signed a new deal through to the summer of 2029 with Lille

Ayyoub Bouaddi transfer news

Brassell added: “I think if you’re looking at midfielders who wouldn’t necessarily need to learn the physical side of the Premier League because they’ve got a lot of it down already, that’s something that I think makes him really interesting.

“The fact that he’s got Champions League experience, he’s getting experience in the Europa League this season.

“He’s next to someone in midfield in Benjamin Andre, who’s very, very experienced and very steady as well, who will be talking him through the games.

“So, he’s piling on so much good experience and wisdom.

“I think there’s going to be a big push for him at the end of this season.

“I think by the time he’s no longer a teenager, he’s likely to be playing for a Premier League team rather than Lille.”