Iliman Ndiaye completed a £60 million transfer from Everton to Manchester City on the final day of the transfer window, despite earlier interest from Tottenham Hotspur. Initially, Tottenham had reached an agreement with Everton for Ndiaye’s move, but the deal collapsed when Spurs failed to sell Richarlison, another forward. Ndiaye confirmed that he never wavered in his decision, stating, "It was always going to be City. I wanted Champions League and playing at one of the best teams in the world. I am not saying Tottenham is not, but when Manchester City comes through you don't say no." Ndiaye made his debut for Manchester City in a 1-0 Premier League victory over Coventry City. He started the match and played most of the game before being substituted in the closing stages due to cramp. The 26-year-old striker emphasized that his desire to compete in the UEFA Champions League was a key factor in choosing City. He had even told his wife, "if I had to leave Everton it would be somewhere where I know I would be playing Champions League." Ndiaye joined Everton in 2024 for £15 million after playing in the Championship with Sheffield United and a season at French club Marseille. Before that, he had played for Boreham Wood and Hyde United, both lower-league clubs in England. Despite Everton finishing in the lower half of the Premier League table during his two seasons with the club, Ndiaye became a fan favorite for his technical skills and scored 17 goals in total. Ndiaye also mentioned that he had spoken with Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca before finalizing the move. Maresca, who previously managed Ndiaye at Marseille, expressed admiration for the player and his influence helped solidify Ndiaye’s decision. Ndiaye expressed his excitement about joining one of the world's biggest clubs, stating, "This is where I think I belong. I have worked hard to get to this point."