Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Iliman Ndiaye from Everton on transfer Deadline Day, beating Tottenham to the winger after Spurs had already agreed terms with his old club. The deal is worth £60m guaranteed plus £5m in add-ons, taking it up to £65m, and Ndiaye has signed a five-year contract. It is a big late move, but also a pretty clear example of City still getting the player they want when the race tightens.
Ndiaye's own comments left little room for doubt about where he wanted to end up. Quoted by standard.co.uk, he said: "There was nothing else that I wanted other than joining Manchester City."
The 26-year-old arrives as City's eighth summer signing and gives them another wide option after a hectic end to the window. BBC reported that Tottenham had agreed terms with Everton on Friday night before the move collapsed, only for City to finish the deal on Deadline Day.
The fee City were prepared to meet
There are two ways the price has been framed, but they point to the same total. Some reports put it as a £65m move, while the fuller breakdown is £60m up front plus £5m in add-ons.
That distinction matters in transfer reporting, especially on a day like this, and City were still paying a premium either way. The guaranteed portion alone is substantial, and the five-year deal shows they are not treating Ndiaye as short-term cover.
His record at Everton helps explain the spend. Ndiaye made 74 appearances and scored 21 goals after joining from Marseille in 2024, so City are buying a player with recent top-flight output rather than a development project.
There is also a wider recruitment point here. Before moving for Ndiaye, City had seen Cody Gakpo stay put after Liverpool rejected an £80m bid. The switch to Ndiaye looks less like a panic buy than a fast pivot once another wide-forward option was closed off.
Why Ndiaye picked City
Speaking to bbc.co.uk, Ndiaye said: "City are one of the best clubs in the world and I've seen them win everything as I've grown up. To be able to write my own chapter in a story that special is the chance of a lifetime and I'm determined to grab it with both hands."
That fits the shape of the move. Tottenham had a route to the deal through Everton, but City had the stronger pull with the player. When that happens, agreed terms with the selling club only take you so far.
Ndiaye also told bbc.co.uk: "I've worked my whole life for an opportunity like this," and that is why this one quickly tilted in City's favour once they entered the race. The attraction was not hidden in coded language about options or timing; he saw City as the destination.
Standard.co.uk carried another version of the same message: "You can see the recent history; you want to be part of that project." For City, that is the part of the story that should please them most. They did not just outbid a rival; they convinced the player their case was the right one.
What City are adding on the wing
Ndiaye's numbers at Everton suggest he should arrive ready to contribute. Seventy-four games and 21 goals is solid output for a winger, and City have been willing to spend because they need certainty from wide areas.
The brief mention of Jack Grealish in the deal's orbit is a reminder of that wider squad conversation, even if this signing stands on its own. City wanted another attacker who could work from wide positions, and they were prepared to act late in the window to get him.
Ndiaye now joins on a five-year contract after City completed the move on Deadline Day, while Tottenham are left looking elsewhere after agreeing terms with Everton but missing the signing.
FAQ
Why did Iliman Ndiaye choose Manchester City over Tottenham?
Ndiaye said Manchester City were the club he wanted, citing their recent success and the chance to be part of that project. Tottenham had agreed terms with Everton on Friday night, but the move collapsed and City completed the deal on Deadline Day.
How much are Manchester City paying for Iliman Ndiaye?
The deal is worth £60m guaranteed plus £5m in add-ons, taking the total package up to £65m. That is the figure reported across the coverage of the transfer, rather than a flat £60m fee.
What does Manchester City get from signing Iliman Ndiaye?
City are buying a winger with recent Premier League experience and output. Ndiaye made 74 appearances and scored 21 goals for Everton after joining from Marseille in 2024, and he has signed a five-year contract.
Did Tottenham almost sign Iliman Ndiaye before Manchester City stepped in?
Yes. Tottenham had agreed terms with Everton on Friday night before the move fell through. City then moved on Deadline Day and completed the signing from Everton.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
