Manchester City have finalized the signing of Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, securing the 26-year-old winger in a transfer package valued at up to £65 million. The deal consists of an initial £60 million fee, with an additional £5 million in potential add-ons. Ndiaye has committed to a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, marking a significant rise for a player who made his professional debut in the seventh tier of English football just over six years ago.
Reflecting on the move, Ndiaye expressed his enthusiasm for the challenge, stating, “I’ve worked my whole life for an opportunity like this.” He added, “City are one of the best clubs in the world and I’ve seen them win everything as I’ve grown up. To be able to write my own chapter in a story that special is the chance of a lifetime and I’m determined to grab it with both hands. It’s not always been easy in my career, but I always had the belief that I could play for a team challenging for the biggest prizes and now I’m here.”
The transfer was finalized on deadline day, following a complex sequence of events. Tottenham had previously agreed to terms with Everton for Ndiaye on Friday, contingent on a separate deal that would have seen Richarlison move to Goodison Park. However, that arrangement collapsed when Richarlison failed to reach an agreement on personal terms with his former club, effectively ending Spurs’ pursuit of the winger.
Ndiaye departs Everton having made 74 appearances and scoring 21 goals since his arrival from Marseille in 2024. His departure coincides with a busy summer for Manchester City under manager Enzo Maresca. On the same day, the club also agreed to a joint-British transfer record fee of £125 million for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. Fernandez is set to become the eighth arrival of the summer, joining other new signings including Elliot Anderson, Geronimo Rulli, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Allan Elias, Jeremy Monga, and Pierce Charles.
From a tactical perspective, Ndiaye arrives in Manchester as a player noted for his evasive dribbling and quick movement. Last season, he accounted for 73 of Everton’s 250 completed dribbles, the highest share of any player in the Premier League. While his individual skill is evident, his statistical output has been a subject of debate. During the previous Premier League campaign, he recorded nine goal contributions, ranking him third at Everton behind Beto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Critics have noted that Ndiaye’s creativity metrics were modest, with 36 chances created—placing him fourth among his former teammates. In comparison, James Garner created 26 more chances, and Jack Grealish, despite an injury-shortened season, created eight more. Grealish has since moved to Everton on loan as part of the club’s restructuring efforts.
Despite these figures, there is an expectation that Ndiaye’s performance levels could rise significantly when surrounded by the higher-caliber talent present at the Etihad. Everton, meanwhile, have secured a substantial profit, having quadrupled the initial £16 million fee they paid to Marseille just two years ago. While some fans might argue the club could have demanded more, the £65 million valuation reflects the current, often inflated, nature of the transfer market.
Ultimately, the move represents a calculated risk for City. While 45 other Premier League players have recorded more goal contributions than Ndiaye since his debut two years ago, his potential to flourish in a more attacking system makes the investment a strategic play for the reigning champions. The report also notes that value has become increasingly hard to determine, in a summer of highly-inflated transfer fees. The report also notes that in the Premier League last season, Ndiaye only ranked joint third at Everton alone for goal contributions (nine), with Beto (10) and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (12) providing more.
