Iliman Ndiaye has joined Manchester City after Enzo Maresca's side stepped up their interest following their failure to sign Cody Gakpo from Liverpool
Iliman Ndiaye (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Iliman Ndiaye (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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Iliman Ndiaye has completed his move to Manchester City for an initial £60m.
The winger has been the subject of intrigue for much of the summer, with Al-Hilal and Tottenham Hotspur having also vied for his signature.
The 26-year-old will move to the Etihad, however, after City hijacked a deal with Spurs after the club’s pursuit of Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo hit trouble.
The sale of Ndiaye follows a summer in which his Everton future repeatedly looked in doubt. David Moyes was speaking publicly of the desire to keep one of his most important players as early as April.
And while there was an acceptance pragmatism might be required given the Senegal international had rejected fresh terms over a desire for a clause that would make it easier for Champions League sides to sign him, the message had been that Everton were operating from a position of strength. Ndiaye had three years left on his contract.
When interest from Al-Hilal came to nothing, with Ndiaye having set Champions League football as his ambition, it looked as though Everton could reach September 2 with their star still at Finch Farm.
But late interest, combined with an apparent willingness to do a deal on more favourable terms, changed that. Spurs moved towards a £60m deal that could have paved the way for a separate move for Richarlison, only for City to act on their interest amid concern over whether the Gakpo deal would progress.