Manchester City's £86m signing Ayyoub Bouaddi delivered a mature Champions League debut start in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Porto. The 18-year-old midfielder, who became the Premier League's most expensive teenager, completed 54 of 55 passes and led both teams in dribbles (4), possession won (7), and duels contested (13). Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin praised Bouaddi on BBC Radio 5 Live, calling him "absolutely born to do it" and a "class act" who eases concerns over Rodri's departure.

Manager Enzo Maresca highlighted Bouaddi's composure and linguistic abilities, noting he speaks French, English, and Spanish perfectly. Erling Haaland, who scored both goals, called Bouaddi a "gem" but playfully criticized a missed pass. The performance validated City's decision to reject loan-back proposals for the Lille academy product, who previously earned a standing ovation for helping Lille beat Real Madrid in 2022.

At 18 years and 341 days, Bouaddi became City's fourth-youngest Champions League starter, signaling he may develop into a world-class talent.