Ndiaye joins Manchester City for £60m as Fernandez deal pushes summer spend past £300m

Iliman Ndiaye has joined Manchester City from Everton in a £60m deal, signing a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium after City hijacked Tottenham’s pursuit of the Senegal forward. The transfer fee could rise by a further £5m in add-ons, taking City’s summer spending beyond £300m — with a potential £125m move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez agreed and set to follow.

Ndiaye, who scored Everton’s final ever goal at Goodison Park, had rejected multiple contract renewal offers from the Toffees, who stand to make a substantial profit after signing him from Marseille for just £15m two years ago. The 24-year-old, formerly of Sheffield United, described the move as the opportunity of a career.

“I’ve worked my whole life for an opportunity like this,” 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.”

City turned to Ndiaye after Liverpool rebuffed an approach for Cody Gakpo, and as they sought replacements for Savinho and Omar Marmoush, both of whom departed for Tottenham this summer.

City director of football Hugo Viana praised the signing, saying: “Iliman is a very talented footballer. He’s had to work incredibly hard to reach this level and in my first conversation with him it was immediately obvious how grounded he is and the determination he has to be the best player he can be. I am really excited to see the level Iliman can reach in the years ahead.”

Everton, meanwhile, are pursuing Jack Grealish from City as a replacement for Ndiaye. The Merseyside club had initially been in separate talks with Tottenham over a deal that would have seen Richarlison return to Goodison and Ndiaye move to north London, before City stepped in to change the picture entirely.