SoftFootball understands Manchester City have strengthened their attack with Iliman Ndiaye before completing another blockbuster deal for Enzo Fernández.
Manchester City have completed the signing of Iliman Ndiaye from Everton in a €70 million deal, with a further €5.8m potentially due in add-ons.
The 26-year-old forward became a target for Pep Guardiola’s side after their failed attempt to sign Liverpool star Cody Gakpo, with City eventually turning their attention to Ndiaye.
Speaking after completing the move, Ndiaye said:
I’ve worked my whole life for an opportunity like this. 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.
The transfer makes Ndiaye the most expensive Senegalese player in history, surpassing Nicolas Jackson’s €55.5m move to Aston Villa just three days earlier.
It is also the second-largest fee Everton have ever received for a player, overtaking Amadou Onana’s €59.4m transfer to Aston Villa in 2024. Only Romelu Lukaku’s €85m move to Manchester United in 2017 remains ahead.
Meanwhile, Manchester City have also completed the signing of Enzo Fernández from Chelsea for £125 million, matching the joint-British transfer record set by Liverpool for Alexander Isak last summer.
Fernández has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium and will now reunite with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who worked with the Argentine midfielder during his time at Stamford Bridge.
The transfer comes more than three months after Fernández first informed Chelsea that he wanted to leave the club. Chelsea had also imposed a deadline for bids more than two weeks before the eventual agreement was reached, eventually allowing the midfielder to depart for a significant fee.
The two deals are expected to push City’s summer spending beyond the €500m landmark, underlining their huge investment in strengthening the squad.
