Iliman Ndiaye is set to join Manchester City from Everton in a deal worth up to 75 million euros, just two years after Olympique de Marseille sold the Senegal international following a disappointing season in France.
The 26-year-old is due to undergo a medical on Tuesday before signing his contract, with the transfer needing to be completed before the English transfer window closes. Manchester City have agreed to pay Everton 70 million euros, with a further five million euros available in bonuses.
The move has emerged after a rapid chain of events in the transfer market. Tottenham had initially been in pole position after reaching a provisional agreement, but that deal collapsed when Richarlison refused to return to Everton.
Manchester City then moved quickly, having turned to Ndiaye after Liverpool rejected an offer of about 93 million euros for Cody Gakpo. The Senegalese forward became a prominent alternative as the club sought to strengthen its attacking options.
Marseille set for unexpected financial return
The transfer is also significant for Olympique de Marseille. The French club paid about 17 million euros to sign Ndiaye in 2023 and sold him to Everton a year later for 18.5 million euros, with bonuses capable of taking the total closer to 20 million euros.
However, Marseille negotiated a 10% share of any profit from a future sale. That clause means the club is expected to receive approximately five million euros from Ndiaye’s move to Manchester City.
The income is valuable for Marseille, although the deal will inevitably renew questions about the club’s handling of a player who has since seen his value rise sharply.
Ndiaye’s only season at Marseille ended with four goals and five assists in 46 appearances and was widely viewed as a failure. His performances were well below the level he had shown at Sheffield United, but the circumstances of his campaign have since led to a more nuanced assessment.
The 2023-24 season was unsettled, with Marseille changing managers and systems. Ndiaye was used on the wing, behind the main striker and through the middle, leaving him without a settled position or sustained run in the team.
He also faced intense pressure after returning to the club he had supported since childhood. The main mistake, in sporting terms, may not have been selling him for a modest profit, but allowing a player whose qualities suited the Premier League to leave before he had established his best role.
Everton form earned Premier League move
Ndiaye rediscovered his confidence after returning to England. Everton gave him a consistent role on the left, allowing him to use his pace and direct running effectively in transition.
His league record reflects that improvement. He scored 15 goals in 67 league appearances for Everton, including nine in his first season and six in his second.
His progress was also confirmed at international level. Ndiaye had already become an important part of Senegal’s attacking rotation before playing a major role in the country’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 triumph. He scored the qualifying goal against Mali in the quarter-final.
At Manchester City, Enzo Maresca sees Ndiaye as more than a squad player. The club’s need for attacking reinforcements has increased following the departures of Savinho and Marmoush, while Jeremy Doku’s physical problems have added to the uncertainty on the flanks.
Maresca was looking for a winger who could operate with either foot, threaten defenders one-on-one and fit into a possession-based 4-3-3 system. Ndiaye’s versatility and improved Premier League experience have made him an attractive option.
In the space of two years, Ndiaye has gone from a frustrated Marseille forward to one of Manchester City’s headline recruits, with his estimated value rising to around four times the figure at which Marseille sold him.