Everton have completed the signing of Iliman Ndiaye from Marseille on a five-year contract through to 2029.
The Athletic reported in June that Ndiaye was set to undergo an Everton medical ahead of a £15million (€17.7m, $19m) move.
“I am so pleased to be an Everton player,” he said upon completing the transfer. “The main reasons I wanted to join were how big the club is, its history and the part I can play in helping the team in the forward direction it is going in. I’m so excited and can’t wait to get going.”
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The forward scored four goals and provided five assists in 46 appearances in all competitions for Marseille last season.
He joined Marseille, who he had previously represented at youth level, from Sheffield United in the summer of 2023 following an impressive season in the Championship.
Ndiaye scored 14 league goals as he helped Sheffield United win promotion to the Premier League. He joined Sheffield United from non-League Boreham Wood in 2019 and scored 22 goals in 88 appearances for the South Yorkshire club.
Born in France, Ndiaye represents Senegal at international level and has been capped 20 times since making his senior debut in 2022.
Everton have already been busy in the early stages of the transfer window, re-signing winger Jack Harrison on loan from Leeds United and bringing in Aston Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam. Everton’s Lewis Dobbin, meanwhile, has gone to Villa Park in a separate deal, while defender Ben Godfrey has been sold to Atalanta.
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Iliman Ndiaye to Everton: The Athletic 500 transfer ratings
Ndiaye to give Everton attack more creativity
The second-lowest scorers in the Premier League last season, Everton have been keen to strength their forward options.
They have held an interest in Ndiaye since his Sheffield United days and see him as someone who can add dynamism and versatility to the attack.
The Senegal international can play across the frontline but is best off a main striker and will offer Sean Dyche a more creative alternative to Abdoulaye Doucoure in the No 10 role.
Ndiaye’s move to his boyhood club Marseille has not worked out, but Everton will hope to get him back to the player he was at Sheffield United, where he struck 14 goals and registered 11 assists to help the Yorkshire club earn promotion from the Championship in the 2022-23 season.
Hard working, a strong dribbler and with a keen eye for goal, his prospective signing strengthens Dyche’s squad ahead of the new season.
(Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP via Getty Images)
