Iliman Ndiaye's path to donning the Manchester City jersey is nothing short of cinematic. The 26-year-old Senegalese winger has officially made the leap from Everton to the Etihad Stadium for a fee totalling £65 million (with £60 million guaranteed plus £5 million in add-ons). It's hard to believe that just over six years ago, he was starting his career in the seventh tier of English football.
"I’ve worked my whole life for a chance like this," the Senegal international said after signing a five-year deal.
"Manchester City are one of the greatest clubs in the world, and while I was growing up, I saw them winning everything. The chance to write my own chapter in such a great story is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m determined to seize it with both hands."
A number of clubs were keen to secure the winger's services. Earlier in the summer, he was in talks with Saudi giants Al-Hilal, while on Friday evening, Tottenham Hotspur had reached an agreement with Everton for a transfer that would see Richarlison return to Goodison Park. However, the Brazilian failed to agree personal terms with his former club, resulting in the deal collapsing and paving the way for City. Ndiaye completed his transfer on the same day City closed a record deal for Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez at £125 million. The Senegalese becomes the eighth new face for Enzo Maresca’s side this summer, following Elliot Anderson, Geronimo Rulli, Ayoub Bouaddi, Allan Elias, Jeremy Mongey, and Pearce Charles.
The rocky road to fame: Sunday leagues, Hyde United, and a rise at Bramall Lane
At just 19, Ndiaye was living in London, playing in the youth setup of modest Boreham Wood and competing in an amateur Sunday league when he unexpectedly received an invitation for a week-long trial at Sheffield United. The then-Premier League club's coaching staff saw his potential after just two friendly matches and offered him a contract, but it would be another 18 months before he made his first-team debut.
In the second half of the 2019/20 season, Ndiaye spent time with semi-professional Hyde United, six divisions below the elite level. There, he featured in six matches, often risking the last train back to Sheffield to get extra hours of individual training.
"My career hasn’t always been smooth sailing," reminisces Ndiaye.
"But I’ve always had an unwavering belief that I could play for a team competing for the top honours, and now here I am."
Upon his return to Bramall Lane, he made his Premier League debut in March 2021 against Leicester City, but it wasn't until three and a half years later that he truly established himself in the top flight. After Sheffield United were relegated to the Championship, Ndiaye evolved into a key player, netting 14 goals in 43 starts to fire the club back to the Premier League in 2023. This led to a transfer to Marseille, a challenging year of adaptation in France, and eventually a switch to Everton for £16 million in July 2024. On Merseyside, the talented winger quickly won over the fans, earning the nickname 'Skilliman' for his dazzling footwork and racking up 15 goals and four assists in 67 Premier League appearances.
Is £65 million a justified price for Ndiaye?
On an overheated transfer market, determining a player's true value is tricky. On one hand, Ndiaye boasts exceptional dribbling skills, agility, speed, and the ability to take on defenders one-on-one. Last season, he recorded 73 successful dribbles for Everton in the league out of 250 attempts, contributing a staggering 29.2% of the team's total— the highest individual involvement in dribbling across all Premier League players! Fans of the Toffees have even chastised the hierarchy for what they perceive as a cheap sale, especially considering the concurrent move of Savinho from Manchester to London for a guaranteed £75 million.
Top dribblers of the Premier League 2025/26 season
| Player | Club | Successful dribbles | Total team dribbles | % of team dribbling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iliman Ndiaye | Everton | 73 | 250 | 29.2% |
| Yankuba Minte | Brighton & Hove Albion | 65 | 267 | 24.3% |
| Michael Kayode | Brentford | 55 | 246 | 22.4% |
| Jeremy Doku | Manchester City | 84 | 409 | 20.5% |
| Jarrod Bowen | West Ham United | 53 | 264 | 20.1% |
| Data source: Opta / BBC Sport | ||||
On the flip side, Everton quadrupled the amount they paid Marseille two years ago, selling a player whose basic performance metrics are still not elite by any means. Last season, Ndiaye only managed third place among the Toffees in the 'goals plus assists' metric, with just nine points, trailing Betu on ten and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on twelve.
Performance statistics for Everton players in the Premier League 2025/26
| Player | Goals | Assists | Goals + Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| Betu | 9 | 1 | 10 |
| James Garner | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Iliman Ndiaye | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| Tierno Barry | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Jack Grealish | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Data source: Opta / BBC Sport | |||
In terms of creative output, the new signing's numbers are also quite modest: he created 36 goal-scoring opportunities last season, ranking only fourth in the club. Midfielder James Garner generated 26 more chances, while Jack Grealish, who has been sidelined with injury since January, surpassed Ndiaye by eight created chances. Interestingly, the now-loaned Grealish is set to fill the void left by Ndiaye on the Toffees’ flank.
Looking at the bigger picture, a total of 45 Premier League players made more impactful contributions than Ndiaye’s 19 points during two seasons at Merseyside. However, at just 26 years old and playing in Enzo Maresca’s dominant setup alongside world-class teammates, Ndiaye's attacking prowess could flourish anew, making the £65 million investment appear to be a sound one for enhancing the creative force.
