Iliman Ndiaye explains why he chose Man City transfer over Tottenham: 'I was being patient' | OneFootball

Spurs had agreed terms to sign player before last-minute hijack

Iliman Ndiaye says signing for Manchester City was a no-brainer, despite Tottenham’s attempts to bring him to north London.

The former Everton winger moved across the north-west to join City in a Deadline Day deal worth £65m.

City’s interest in the player, though, was not formalised until after Tottenham had agreed terms with Everton for his sale.

Enzo Maresca’s side successfully hijacked the move with the transfer deadline drawing in, and, speaking after making his City debut in defeat of Coventry on Saturday, Ndiaye said it did not take much for City to turn his head.

“There was no stress or no panicking,” Ndiaye told reporters. “I always say whatever comes, comes. God decides your future, it’s already written.

Illiman Ndiaye played 87 minutes of Saturday’s victory over Coventry

“I was just being patient and when City came through I was buzzing.

“(Maresca is) someone that admired me and as soon as they came through I had only one direction where I wanted to go.”

Pressed as to whether he was close to joining Tottenham at any stage, Ndiaye replied: “For me it was always going to be City. I wanted Champions League and playing at one of the best teams in the world.

City open their Champions League campaign this week, visiting Porto on Tuesday night. Ndiaye will hope to make his Champions League debut in that match, with his only previous European experience coming in Marseille’s failed qualification campaign in 2023.