Manchester City have officially announced the acquisition of winger Iliman Ndiaye for a total fee of £65 million. The structure of the deal includes a guaranteed £60 million payment to his former club, with an additional £5 million available through performance‑related bonuses. Ndiaye, who was also being pursued by Tottenham Hotspur, has committed to a five‑year contract with the Etihad Stadium side, signalling the club’s long‑term belief in his potential.
In a parallel move, Jack Grealish has headed back to his former team Everton on a season‑long loan. The arrangement will see Grealish spend the upcoming campaign at Goodison Park, covering the final year of his contract with Manchester City. The loan provides Everton with a proven Premier League talent while allowing City to free up a valuable wage slot and give Grealish regular playing time. Meanwhile, a separate negotiation involving Manchester United and Everton fell through.
Everton had offered to take Joshua Zirkzee on loan, proposing a package worth roughly £10 million that would have covered his salary for the season and included a loan fee. Manchester United declined the proposal, leaving Zirkzee to remain at Old Trafford for the remainder of the campaign.
Ndiaye’s arrival comes on the heels of Liverpool’s decision to reject an £80 million bid from Manchester City for Dutch forward Cody Gakpo. Sky Sports reports that Liverpool were uneasy about their ability to replace the Dutch international promptly, which may have influenced their refusal to sell. The transfer window remains busy for City, who are still looking to bolster both the wide‑forward and central‑midfield positions before the deadline. Earlier this month the club secured a joint‑British record transfer for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández, a deal that was finalized on the final day of the window.
At the same time, City have allowed Savio and Omar Marmoush to move to Tottenham, narrowing the options available to manager Pep Guardiola on the flanks. In City’s recent Premier League victory over Crystal Palace, the team did not feature a traditional winger on the bench. Instead, Phil Foden – a versatile midfielder who manager Enzo Maresca has clarified is not a winger – was deployed out wide at Selhurst Park, highlighting the tactical flexibility that Guardiola often employs.
Speaking after his signing, Ndiaye expressed the magnitude of the moment for him personally and professionally. "I’ve worked my whole life for an opportunity like this," he said.
"City are one of the best clubs in the world and I’ve watched them win everything as I grew 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.
It hasn’t always been easy in my career, but I always believed I could play for a team challenging for the biggest prizes, and now I’m here. It feels so good. I love to play with the ball on the floor in an attacking team that wants to score as many goals as possible.
That’s why I know this is the perfect fit." City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, added his own praise for the new signing. "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 have no doubt City fans will get a thrill seeing him in action for us," Viana remarked. The signing of Ndiaye marks the seventh addition to Manchester City’s summer roster, underscoring the club’s commitment to refreshing its squad depth across all areas.
The financial outlay, while substantial, reflects the premium placed on young, dynamic wingers who can thrive in Guardiola’s possession‑heavy system. By securing Ndiaye, City aim to add pace, directness, and a goal‑scoring threat from wide positions, complementing the existing talents of Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, and Jack Grealish when he returns to Everton. For Everton, the loan of Jack Grealish offers a short‑term boost to their attacking options. Grealish, who struggled for consistent minutes at City during the previous season, will have the chance to re‑establish himself in a familiar environment.
The move also frees up a valuable wage budget for the Toffees, allowing them to explore other signings during the remaining transfer window. The failed loan bid for Joshua Zirkzee highlights the competitive nature of the market for promising forwards. United’s decision to retain Zirkzee suggests they still see potential value in the Dutch striker, either as a squad player or a future asset. Everton’s willingness to meet a £10 million total package demonstrates their eagerness to add depth to their attacking line‑up, but the deal ultimately did not materialise.
Overall, the latest developments illustrate the intricate balancing act clubs perform during the summer transfer period: negotiating fees, managing wage structures, and aligning player ambitions with club strategies. Manchester City’s aggressive spending, combined with strategic loans and player releases, signals their intent to remain at the summit of English football while also planning for the long‑term evolution of the squad. Everton, on the other hand, seeks to strengthen its roster through strategic loans and targeted purchases, aiming to improve its league standing. Fans of both clubs will be watching closely as the new season approaches, eager to see how these moves translate onto the pitch.
For City supporters, the hope is that Ndiaye will adapt quickly to the high‑tempo, possession‑driven style that defines Pep Guardiola’s side and contribute to the club’s quest for domestic and European glory. Everton fans, meanwhile, will be hoping that Grealish’s return injects creativity and experience into a side that aims to climb the table. As the transfer window draws to a close, the footballing world will continue to analyze each club’s decisions, assessing whether the financial commitments made this summer will yield the desired results on the field.
The story of Iliman Ndiaye’s £65 million move to Manchester City, Jack Grealish’s loan back to Everton, and the surrounding negotiations encapsulates the high‑stakes nature of modern football transfers, where talent, money, and ambition intersect in a constantly evolving marketplace.