Iliman Ndiaye set for Manchester City move after Everton breakthrough

Iliman Ndiaye is set to join Manchester City from Everton in a deal worth up to €75m, just two years after leaving Olympique de Marseille following a disappointing first season at the club.

The transfer is subject to the 26-year-old Senegal international completing his medical on Tuesday and signing his contract before the English transfer window closes. Manchester City have agreed to pay Everton €70m, with a further €5m potentially due in bonuses.

The move emerged late in a chain of events in the transfer market. Tottenham had initially been favourites to sign Ndiaye after reaching an agreement in principle with Everton, but the deal collapsed when Richarlison refused to return to the Toffees.

Manchester City then moved quickly after failing to persuade Liverpool to sell Cody Gakpo. Liverpool firmly rejected an offer believed to be worth about €93m, prompting the Premier League champions to turn their attention to Ndiaye.

Marseille set for significant windfall

The transfer will also bring an unexpected financial benefit to Olympique de Marseille. Ndiaye joined the French club from Sheffield United in 2023 for close to €17m, but was sold to Everton a year later for €18.5m, with bonuses capable of taking the total close to €20m.

Marseille negotiated a 10% share of any future profit when Ndiaye was sold. As a result, the French club are expected to receive about €5m from the move to Manchester City.

That income will be welcome, although it is likely to renew questions about whether Marseille gave up on the player too soon.

Ndiaye made 46 appearances during his only season at Marseille, scoring four goals and providing five assists. His campaign was widely regarded as a failure, but the circumstances surrounding it provide some context.

His performances were well below the level he had shown at Sheffield United, while the 2023-24 season at Marseille was disrupted by repeated changes of manager and tactical system. Ndiaye was used on the wing, behind the striker and through the middle, preventing him from establishing a consistent role.

He also faced intense pressure after returning to the club he supported. The main mistake by Marseille, according to the assessment of his development, was not necessarily selling him for too little at the time, but allowing a player suited to the Premier League to leave before he had discovered his best position.

Ndiaye rebuilt his reputation after returning to England. Everton gave him a settled role on the left, where his pace and ability to carry the ball during transitions became central to his performances.

He scored 15 goals in 67 league appearances for Everton, with nine coming in his first season and six in the following campaign.

His progress was also reflected at international level. Ndiaye became an important part of Senegal’s attacking options and then played a significant role in the country’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 triumph. He scored the goal that secured Senegal’s qualification against Mali in the quarter-final.

Maresca sees more than a squad player

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca views Ndiaye as more than a player to provide occasional cover. The departures of Savinho and Omar Marmoush, together with Jeremy Doku’s physical vulnerability, created the need for an adaptable winger.

Ndiaye fits the profile targeted by Maresca: a player comfortable using either foot, dangerous in one-on-one situations and capable of operating in a possession-based 4-3-3 system.

Within two years, Ndiaye has gone from an underwhelming Marseille signing to one of Manchester City’s headline recruits, with his value rising to roughly four times the amount involved in his move to Everton.