The Everton forward opened the scoring on Sunday against Brighton & Hove Albion in the first Premier League game at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Iliman Ndiaye of Everton celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 24, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye has dedicated the first goal in a competitive game at Hill Dickinson Stadium to his daughter Ayla who predicted he would write himself into history on this landmark occasion when he first signed for the club in July 2024.Ndiaye, who also bagged a brace in the 2-0 win over Southampton on May 18, to net Everton’s last two goals at Goodison Park after 133 years at the first purpose-built football ground in England, recorded a unique double feat as he fired David Moyes’ men ahead after 23 minutes of their inaugural Premier League fixture at their 52,769 capacity new home on the Mersey waterfront to set them on the way to a 2-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion. Incredibly, it was a moment that the Senegal international’s then infant daughter who could he said couldn’t really talk at the time, had backed him to achieve after joining the club for £15million from Olympique Marseille.The 25-year-old, who insists he is fine despite going off with a thigh problem in the second half, said: “Yeah it means a lot. Obviously when you play football you want to create history, so it felt good.
“The question was asked to me about ‘who’s going to score the first goal at the new stadium?’ and my daughter just said ‘Dada’ so that goal was for her. It was amazing.“My reaction meant whatever it meant. It was amazing, not just for what I said 13 months ago but for the team and for the fans. “I just want to see the fans happy. Obviously (with it being the first game at) the new stadium as well, we wanted to come in and get a good result.“We felt like we started the game strong and the fans are always behind us, they’re always supporting us and giving us the extra push. When you see our play, we did great and I think it’s a sign of what’s more to come during the season.”Having spent most of last season on the left wing, or occasionally operating in a central ‘number 10’ role, with new signings Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall occupying those spaces, Ndiaye was deployed on the right flank, a role he often occupies for his country and a problem position for Everton since last season’s loan pair Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom returned to their parent clubs after underwhelming campaigns. Ndiaye felt the new-look attacking midfield trio combined well behind striker Thierno Barry, another summer recruit.He said: “It’s good. Obviously, we wanted to add the quality to the team and the players coming in are doing that, which we need. We’re trying to get the chemistry to understand us a bit better in the way we play and try to replicate the things we do in training and bring it in the game.“With Jack coming in, we know what he can do. We know what everyone can do, like Kiernan and Thierno (Barry), playing off what they do and trying to understand them more.“There are little signs. They’ve been brilliant since they’ve come in so it’s just the beginning.”