Everton rejected a £40m offer from Champions League finalists Inter Milan for Iliman Ndiaye during the summer transfer window, according to The Athletic.
The Merseysiders are said to have received an enquiry from the Serie A club regarding Ndiaye but immediately rebuffed it, with no intention of selling the 'incredible' Senegal international following his standout season.
Ndiaye, who joined Everton from Marseille in July last year, enjoyed a stellar 2024/25 campaign at Goodison Park, scoring 11 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions and finishing the season as the club’s top scorer.
He also started the 2025/26 season in fine form, netting twice in Everton’s first three games in the Premier League, helping them to back-to-back wins over Brighton and Wolves.
Everton Reject Inter Approach for Ndiaye
Iliman Ndiaye
Iliman Ndiaye
Inter and Everton have rarely done transfer business, with the only deal between the clubs coming in the summer of 2005, when former Netherlands international Andy van der Meyde moved from San Siro to Goodison Park.
Ndiaye’s departure would likely have forced Everton into the market for a replacement, as the 25-year-old has established himself as a key player in his first 12 months at the club.
Everton underwent a significant rebuild under David Moyes this summer, welcoming nine new players while eight made way, including veterans Abdoulaye Doucoure, Ashley Young and long-serving striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Toffees brought in forwards Tyler Dibling and Thierno Barry as their two most expensive signings, while Jack Grealish joined on a season-long loan from Manchester City.
Deals were also struck for former Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and ex-Bayern Munich full-back Adam Aznou, while Carlos Alcaraz saw his move from Flamengo made permanent.
Ndiaye went into Everton’s history books last season when he scored the club’s last goals at Goodison Park, netting twice in their 2-0 win against Southampton.
The Senegalese forward also scored the Toffees’ first goal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, turning in a cross from Grealish in their 2-0 win over Brighton.
Ndiaye had no shortage of suitors this summer, with GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Fabrizio Romano revealing that Everton had also rejected approaches from Premier League clubs for the 25-year-old.
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