"I don't think it's the right time for him to move, and we still need him." Ayegbeni Yakubu, a former Everton star, has delivered a blunt verdict into the transfer speculation circling Iliman Ndiaye this summer. Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City are all reportedly keen on the winger-cum-attacking midfielder, but Yakubu's message — grounded in tactical observation and Everton's rebuilding priorities — stands firm: stay.
The case for keeping Ndiaye rests on two pillars. First, his rare skill set. Yakubu, drawing on his own Everton years, compares Ndiaye directly to Steven Pienaar: "He plays exactly like another Steven Pienaar. I would enjoy playing with him in the same team because he has that vision, knows how to dribble, and how to pass the ball forward." That combination of press resistance and creative range — winger dribbling paired with midfielder vision — is difficult to find. In a Premier League where elite teams hunt for that profile, losing him diminishes Everton's tactical flexibility at the precise moment when the club is rebuilding.
Ndiaye's mixed World Cup and Everton's rebuilding
Ndiaye's Senegal campaign muddied the picture. Against Iraq in the group stage, he was dominant: an 8.2 rating in 38 minutes, a crisp right-foot strike from outside the area, and one assist. Against Belgium in the knockout, he managed only 16 minutes and a 6.7 rating. Senegal surrendered a 2-0 lead, conceding to Romelu Lukaku in the 86th and Youri Tielemans in the 89th, then losing via Tielemans' penalty in extra time.
Across three appearances, Ndiaye finished on 1 goal and 2 assists in 127 minutes, with a 7.17 overall rating. The volatility is real. But so is the creative output. Two assists, even in a brief tournament, signal that even against elite opposition, Ndiaye finds space and precision.
The cost to Everton was tangible: Ndiaye missed six Premier League games during the tournament window. Everton finished 13th on 49 points with form LLDDL in their final five matches. Ndiaye is not solely responsible for that collapse, but he is a rare bright spot in a squad that needs continuity, not upheaval.
David Moyes, his manager, sees it plainly: "He is the last person I would consider selling." That resolve reflects more than sentiment. With a 2029 contract and Everton owned by The Friedkin Group — an ownership with substantial financial resources — the club is not under pressure to sell. Friedkin's ambition is sustained European football; Ndiaye is one of the few assets already in place who can operate at that level. Manchester United sits third on 71 points, Arsenal leads the league on 85, and Manchester City is second on 78. All are better placed than Everton, and all are interested. But better placement does not compel Everton to sell.
The real question
The tension here is genuine. Elite teams want Ndiaye because, even in a mixed World Cup, his skill stands out. Yakubu wants him to stay because that skill is precisely what Everton cannot afford to lose while rebuilding. Whether Ndiaye himself — having tasted elite interest and possibly harbouring Champions League ambitions — will agree with either argument remains genuinely open.
Yakubu's case, rooted in Everton's structural need and Ndiaye's tactical uniqueness, carries weight that summer's speculation alone cannot dismiss. If Ndiaye stays, he becomes a cornerstone of Friedkin's European project. If he leaves, Everton loses a player whose combination of dribbling and creative vision cannot easily be replaced in the transfer market, at any price.
FAQ
Should Iliman Ndiaye leave Everton this summer?
Ayegbeni Yakubu argues he must stay. Ndiaye's dribbling and creative vision are rare and central to Everton's rebuild. Manager David Moyes called him 'the last person I would consider selling.' But Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City are all interested, and Ndiaye's own Champions League ambitions are unclear.
How did Iliman Ndiaye perform at the World Cup?
Mixed results. Against Iraq he was dominant with an 8.2 rating, 1 goal and 1 assist in 38 minutes. Against Belgium he managed only 16 minutes with a 6.7 rating. Across three World Cup appearances, he finished on 1 goal and 2 assists in 127 minutes.
Why are elite clubs interested in Iliman Ndiaye?
His skill set is rare: dribbling ability paired with creative vision. He produced 2 assists in a brief World Cup tournament. Ayegbeni Yakubu compares him to Steven Pienaar — a player who flourished at Everton. That combination is difficult to find in the Premier League.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →