Ndiaye's journey from non-league football to £65m Man City move

Manchester City have signed Senegal winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton for a fee worth up to £65m, the club confirmed on transfer deadline day. The 26-year-old has agreed a five-year contract after a deal reported as £60m up front with a further £5m in add-ons.

Ndiaye said: "I've worked my whole life for an opportunity like this," adding that joining "one of the best clubs in the world" was "the chance of a lifetime".

WHAT HAPPENED
Ndiaye moves to the Etihad Stadium following two seasons at Everton. He joined the Merseyside club in July 2024 for an initial £16m after a difficult spell at Marseille and leaves having scored 15 goals and provided four assists in 67 Premier League appearances for the Toffees.

Background: a scenic route to the top
Ndiaye's rise to Manchester City traces back to non-league and youth football. As a 19-year-old in London he was in Boreham Wood's youth ranks and playing Sunday league when Sheffield United invited him for a one-week trial. The Blades signed him, but he did not feature immediately: he spent the second half of the 2019–20 season on loan at Hyde United in the Northern Premier Division, making six appearances, and has recalled risking missing the last train back to Sheffield to keep training. He made his Premier League debut for Sheffield United in March 2021 and, after two seasons in the Championship, scored 14 goals in 43 starts as the Blades returned to the top flight in 2023. He then moved to Marseille, spent a season in France, and joined Everton in 2024.

Transfer context and surrounding moves
Ndiaye had held talks with Saudi club Al‑Hilal earlier in the summer. Tottenham Hotspur reportedly agreed terms with Everton on Friday night for Ndiaye when Richarlison's potential move back to Everton appeared set; sources indicated Richarlison failed to agree personal terms and Spurs were unable to proceed with the transfer for Ndiaye.

City's deadline-day business came on the same day they agreed to pay a joint‑British transfer record fee of £125m for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández. Enzo Fernández is set to be the club's eighth summer signing; other arrivals this window include Elliot Anderson, Geronimo Rulli, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Allan Elias, Jeremy Monga and Pierce Charles.

Performance and valuation
Statistical context in the source reporting highlights Ndiaye's ball skills — he accounted for 73 of Everton's 250 completed dribbles last season, the highest share of any Premier League player — but also notes his broader output is not yet elite. Since joining Everton two years ago, 45 Premier League players have recorded more goal contributions than Ndiaye's 19. At Everton last season he created 36 chances (fourth at the club) and was joint third for goal contributions for the team. The source suggests it is reasonable to expect his numbers could improve surrounded by City's squad, while also noting the fee represents a significant profit on the £16m Everton initially paid Marseille.

Source: BBC Sport Football