How valuable is Iliman Ndiaye to Everton? | OneFootball

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The summer transfer window officially opens on Monday. Off-field disputes and the World Cup have distracted some of the gaze from the silly season rumour mill, but transfer gossip continues to simmer in the background.

One unwanted story revolves around the future of Iliman Ndiaye. The Senegalese forward is understood to be stalling on a new contract at Everton amid a reported desire for a rather modest release clause, in an ever-inflating world of transfer fees.

The numbers circling suggest Ndiaye’s camp wants a get-out clause of around €50m (£43m), a figure that falls far below Everton’s internal valuation. Amid interest from Premier League rivals, the Toffees quite rightly believe Ndiaye is worth a significant sum more.

Ndiaye, at surface level, is Everton’s best talent. A wonderfully smooth dribbler, he’s one of the few in the David Moyes regime who brings genuine excitement. Ndiaye gets supporters on the edge of their seats, a rarity in a notoriously pragmatic team.​

It’s the 26-year-old’s work ethic that perhaps grants him greater licence under Moyes. He is tigerish without the ball, ranking seventh among Premier League wingers for possession won per 90 last season, bringing graft alongside his guile.

But as Everton faltered down the run-in, Ndiaye’s impact waned. A packed schedule that included a mid-season run to the Afcon final caught up with him across the season’s latter weeks, fatigue seen in both his output and decision-making.

The latter is perhaps what is holding Ndiaye back from performing at a truly top level. Across two seasons at Everton, he’s managed just three league assists. For a player of such obvious talent and individualistic brilliance, that is a meagre total.

So, should Everton receive an offer upwards of £60m this summer, would there be a temptation to sell?​

The dream world would be that Everton add players to complement Ndiaye, signings that raise the level around him, and extract more from his maverick gifts. But the Premier League’s financial rules have the club’s hands tied when it comes to net investment.

Jack Grealish’s future could be decisive. Everton are eager to re-sign last season’s loanee, following a positive impact prior to his season-ending injury. Both favour a role drifting from the left, and Grealish’s numbers far outperformed those of his club teammate.

He ranked in the top 20% of wingers in Europe for progressive carries, completed dribbles, assists, and key passes per 90 minutes. Ndiaye, in comparison, did not rank in the top 20% for any of those metrics. Their numbers for non-penalty goals per 90 were also similar, despite often being used as a criticism of Grealish’s game.

There are elephants in the room. Almost five years Ndiaye’s senior, Grealish will turn 31 in September, while the size of the financial package poses a challenge.

Another loan, or a reasonable deal for a player that is unwanted at the Etihad, could fill the Ndiaye-shaped hole, while raising funds for priority positions, including the recruitment of a specialised right-sided forward and a long, long, overdue right-back.

The risk, of course, is sanctioning the sale to free funds for a recruitment team whose record has been patchy at best. A sale can have its merit, but the fanbase needs to trust the succession plan. Right now, few have that confidence.

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Gavin Johnson 2 Posted 12/06/2026 at 15:17:28

His value depends entirely on how much he wants to stay. If he's getting his agent to put the feelers out for a move, he should be sold for the best price.

I think he's the most exciting Everton player I've seen in an Everton shirt since Kanchelskis but, unlike the Russian, he doesn't have the same final product, often making a spectacular run before skewering his shot or pass.

Ndiaye to me is like a better version of Bolasie, and the player we hoped Bolasie would be when we signed him from Palace.

I look at it in these terms. We could probably get £60M-£70M if he has a decent World Cup, and we could potentially get a less flashy player in Harry Wilson on a free who would probably get as many, if not more, goals and assists.

Christy Ring 4 Posted 12/06/2026 at 15:30:46

We've new owners, a fabulous new stadium; if we want to progress to the next level, we have to keep our best players, and Ndiaye is right up there. Sell him for big money and, no matter who you buy, their fee will go up.

You can talk about Wilson on a free, but his wages would be treble Ndiaye's. I'd take Wilson, but he doesn't dribble past players. Ndiaye finished the season poorly, but he played nearly every game plus Afcon, and Moyes still wouldn't rest him.

Martin Reppion 5 Posted 12/06/2026 at 15:35:51

if £60-70M gets you Tyrique George, Harry Wilson and Grealish, then it is a no-brainer. (Transfer fees, signing on etc). It leaves whatever there is in the kitty for the full backs, central striker etc.

Keeping him on improved terms whilst being vulnerable to a low bid is poor business. However, this is assuming that the much vaunted recruitment team have got players lined up.

It's no use having money in the bank only to be skanked on transfer window closure day. We need to get some good business done early on.

Jay Harris 6 Posted 12/06/2026 at 15:37:28

The key to success is consistency and, while Ndiaye is undoubtedly talented, his contribution is very inconsistent.

We need a maverick type of player but, if we get Grealish or his ilk back for next season, I would say £60M for Ndiaye would get us a decent replacement...

In fact, if we could get that and get Richarlison back for £30M to £40M, I would say we will be better off.

Mark Taylor 7 Posted 12/06/2026 at 15:44:17

Questions like this can never be black and white. Every player is for sale at the right price -- but point taken, you do need more faith in our recruitment than most of us currently have.

I gather he was bought for about £17M. If you sold him for £70M, with 2 years amortisation on the original transfer cost, you're looking at a player trading profit of near £60M. That buys a lot of new players.

Liam Mogan 9 Posted 12/06/2026 at 15:58:35

Gavin 2 - more exciting than Wayne Rooney?

A genuine world class talent?

Raymond Fox 10 Posted 12/06/2026 at 16:04:27

Makes you wonder how and why we got him for £17M, was there a reason? I think we would be lucky to get £60M personally, nearer £50M I'd say. I don't want him to leave, you can't keep selling your best players and also hope to be successful.

This is one of our problems, though: if a regular Top 4 club comes sniffing around, they want away. It's the chicken or the egg situation, you need your best players to force us into the Top 4 to 6 places.

Terry Downes 11 Posted 12/06/2026 at 16:15:44

Jay,

Personally I can't see how we're not looking at Richarlison at around £25M he's a bargain?

Instead, we're being linked with all and sundry who cost more and aren't proven in the Premier League? Baffling...

Andrew Merrick 12 Posted 12/06/2026 at 16:23:25

There aren't many who will, John.

John Collins 13 Posted 12/06/2026 at 16:23:38

Rashford at £26M is even more of a bargain.

If you don't ask, you don't get. I'd happily give him Jack's wages and his position.

Mark Taylor 14 Posted 12/06/2026 at 16:25:32

John @13,

I suppose the problem there is that Rashford sees himself as above us whereas Grealish doesn't.

Jason McClure 15 Posted 12/06/2026 at 16:36:42

Sell Ndiaye all day long -- anything north of £50M. No real end product and often beats one man too many or runs into dead ends.

He is equal 4th for assists with Tarkowski and Gueye and 4th for goals scored last season -- he had 0 assists the season before.

Take the money and reinvest.

Mark Murphy 16 Posted 12/06/2026 at 17:14:20

Let's be clear here. It's not like he's refusing a contract that means he can leave this summer. His current contract expires in 2029. The club are negotiating an improved contract for him. If he doesn't agree it, the existing one applies.

I can't see the club agreeing a new contract that weakens the club's side of the deal and as we don't need to sell him (for less than we value him but more than his agent's desired exit clause), I can't see him leaving until next summer at the earliest.

David West 17 Posted 12/06/2026 at 17:21:18

You don't put a get-out clause in your contract if you're happy and committed.

Why all the fuss? We all know contracts are not worth fuck all. If a bigger club wants a player and he wants to go, it will happen. No one wants someone who's not 100%.

Just tell him, no get out clause or no new deal, 3 years left. If Man Utd or anyone else wants him, get the big bucks out!!!

John Collins 18 Posted 12/06/2026 at 17:27:43

Mark 14.

How do you know that?

Mike Gaynes 19 Posted 12/06/2026 at 17:52:14

In a club lacking attacking talent, selling your most talented attacker is foolish. And Ndiaye is tremendously valuable to Everton in ways that don't show up in the score book. His ability to keep and control the ball prevents it from coming back at us from turnovers. And he's the club's second leading tackler behind Garner. He works his ass off.

That said, however, his actual goal production is spotty. He needs to be alongside a quality #10, in front of a good overlapping fullback and provided a pacy opposite wing for his crosses. I say keep him and get him some better running mates.

And Harry:"... a recruitment team whose record has been patchy at best" is pure malarkey. Last July, half the current six-member recruitment team wasn't even on board yet! Smith, Cox and Howarth had been announced but hadn't yet joined. And even Kinnear had been in his chair only three months. So the record isn't "patchy" -- it has not yet begun.

Mark Taylor 20 Posted 12/06/2026 at 18:01:18

John @18,

True, I don't know (how can we know anything about transfer business until and unless it happens) but whereas Grealish has a made it clear he would play for us by, well, playing for us, I have seen no evidence we are even on Rashford's radar and he has certainly not been mentioned in connection to us, at least not since 2018.

He currently gets Champions League football. If money is his thing, the Saudis will pay him more than we ever could... and, if glory is his thing -- well, let's be realistic, that is not on the table from us right now.

So you could ask I guess but I'm pretty sure I know the answer. Incidentally, the above does not mean I think we should be paying Grealish his £300k. I'd like to think our recruitment team could find at least two equally good players for those wages.

John Collins 21 Posted 12/06/2026 at 18:06:32

My point Mark.

Rashford "thinking he is above us" is straight from your imagination.

David West 22 Posted 12/06/2026 at 18:08:14

Mike, he might be our most talented, easy on the eye, entertaining but not most consistent or productive.

A decent pair of full backs would help him enormously, on either side has no help.

It's a tough one, don't think anyone would even be debating this if it wasn't for the contract situation, yet the club needs to be firm, we've given him the platform, we are offering better terms as a reward, so in my opinion it's a clear case of make the offer we are happy with, I'm sure will be good money for a player not many wanted 2 years ago or get the big fee while his contract is still long.

Will he be adored at utd, or another club like he is now? Had a few moves already, grass isn't always greener illy !!!

John Collins 23 Posted 12/06/2026 at 18:21:46

Mike G.

A quality No 10 similar to Rooney. 😁

Ian Bennett 24 Posted 12/06/2026 at 18:27:22

We are great at selling our best players.

And shite at buying good ones.

John Pickles 25 Posted 12/06/2026 at 18:32:48

He's my favorite current player and I would love to keep him, but if he is demanding such a low get-out clause, he does not see his long term future here.

If a high offer comes in (£70M+), I guess, unfortunately, we would be wise to accept it.

Christy Ring 26 Posted 12/06/2026 at 18:34:54

I see where our supposedly former senior scout Bryan King says Moyes is on a personal scouting mission at the World Cup for Everton; pure tabloid rubbish in my opinion.

He must know what players we need, and any player who plays well, their value will rocket. As we know from previous tournaments, it seldom works out. Remember Poborsky at Man Utd, a disaster.

Mark Taylor 27 Posted 12/06/2026 at 18:51:52

Yes, John 21, I imagine he might not be interested in us because he has never showed any sign of wanting to play for a club in our position.

Maybe you know different?

Alan McGuffog 29 Posted 12/06/2026 at 19:17:27

£65M-£70M? Bite their hands off. Otherwise, play him for the next two seasons and cash in for what would have been his final season... £25M-£30M.

I should be running this club.

Mike Gaynes 30 Posted 12/06/2026 at 19:17:37

Christy, wow, you're entitled to your opinion, but personally I hope we have scouts and members of the transfer committee at every game. No better place to see lots and lots of quality players under high-pressure conditions. Far more ideal than trying to scout players during their league seasons.

There's certainly no reason to stay away because World Cup transfers sometimes fail. I mean, Poborsky? Really? 30 years ago is the best example you can come up with?

John Collins 31 Posted 12/06/2026 at 19:20:52

Mark @27.

I don't know different and I won't be taking a guess.

David West 32 Posted 12/06/2026 at 19:26:17

The World Cup is an anomaly for transfers. I wouldn't be buying a player because he's played a blinder against Curacao or Haiti.

When the competition goes deeper, the bigger nations will be there and we all know their players anyway, they are mostly out of our price range.

Christy Ring 33 Posted 12/06/2026 at 19:27:00

Mike #30 My point is that you're hardly looking at the World Cup to see who you bring in, unless some of the players are already on our list.

Mike, the only reason I mentioned Poborsky is because he always stuck in my mind, and a quality player's price will shoot up if they perform well.

Andy Meighan 34 Posted 12/06/2026 at 19:43:06

Christy

I'll also give you Phil Babb, went to the Red Shite and was awful.

But don't tell Gaynesy I've told you that.

Darren Hind 35 Posted 12/06/2026 at 19:57:37

Mike @19,

Your last paragraph is bang on the money. It's daft to blame a recruitment that wasn't even here yet for the poor signings we have made.

By his own admission, they're all on Moyes.

Gavin Johnson 36 Posted 12/06/2026 at 21:02:51

Liam #9,

Yeah, I think Ndiaye has been more exciting to watch than Rooney for Everton, because someone who is an elite dribbler, which I think Ndiaye is, will always excite and get people off their feet.

While Rooney went on to being a world class player and superior to Ndiaye, I seem to remember him not being a nailed-down starter under Moyes at 17 years old and, that Arsenal goal aside, he had his biggest moments playing for England in that period.

Les Callan 37 Posted 12/06/2026 at 21:34:39

Gavin, that must go down as the most ridiculous comment ever made on TW:

“Ndiaye more exciting to watch than Rooney.“

Gavin Johnson 38 Posted 12/06/2026 at 22:10:26

No Les, my comment has a caveat. Ndiaye is more exciting to watch for Everton than Rooney was as a 17-year-old.

Rooney didn't even play every game as a teenager under Moyes. He wasn't a complete player at Everton, so I don't think my comment is ridiculous at all.

Kanchelskis was more exciting to watch than Ndiaye, but I don't think Rooney was at that age.

Christy Ring 39 Posted 12/06/2026 at 22:22:24

Gavin, I think it's time to stop.

Rooney was only 16, 'he wasn't a complete player at Everton' unbelievable, I'll say no more.

Gavin Johnson 40 Posted 12/06/2026 at 22:37:36

Christy, Rooney was a prodigy who was much better than Ndiaye, but I think you are thinking of the Man Utd player and not the Everton one. He didn't even play every game under Moyes. He never scored double figures at Everton in his first spell.

List me all the moments in an Everton shirt that made him so exciting, apart from the Arsenal and Leeds goals, cos I can't think of many. His biggest moments were in the Euros for England before he went to Man Utd.

I think you're under the misconception that I think Ndiaye is better. I think Ndiaye is more exciting because of the way he travels with the ball. He is also in his peak years. Rooney wasn't with us.

At the end of the day, my opinion is that Kanchelskis and Ndiaye are the most exciting players I've seen in an Everton shirt because I like the way they play/ed. There is no right or wrong answer in what people like to see in players. It's subjective.

And while I enjoy watching how Ndiaye can breeze past players, I can also see his short-comings and would sell him for the right price.

If we could sell him for £60M+ and get Harry Wilson on a free transfer, we wouldn't have the flashy maverick in Wilson, but he would probably get as many goals and assists as Ndiaye, if not more.

Phillip Warrington 41 Posted 12/06/2026 at 22:47:38

I would keep him; if he doesn't re-sign, then run out the 3 years. If that means he leaves for free, so be it. Hopefully we can put a team together that can be in Europe for the next 5 years and change his mind.

In today's market, to replace him would be more than we would sell him for. I think he's a better player than Anthony Gordon and he went to Barcelona for £70M.

Les Callan 42 Posted 12/06/2026 at 23:27:59

Gavin, I think you ought to do what Christy says. Give it a rest.

Gavin Johnson 43 Posted 12/06/2026 at 23:37:04

Les, I've qualified and explained my opinion. It seems you can't -- other than to say Rooney was more exciting because it was Wayne Rooney.

My original post also wasn't on who was the better player. It's on the "excitement" watching a player.

If someone finds watching one player more exciting than the other, they cannot be wrong because excitement is a subjective feeling and emotion, giving them an opinion personal to them.

Do not tell someone how they feel or felt about something.

Time for you to leave it there, Les.

Liam Mogan 44 Posted 12/06/2026 at 00:17:48

You're right that it's subjective, Gavin. I get that. But not seen many, if any, be more exciting when he got the ball as an Everton player than Rooney.

I thought he was somewhat less exciting at Man Utd after being shoehorned all over the pitch, because he had so many strengths.

Personally, I see Ndiaye as more style over substance really. Although after years and years of average players, he is undoubtedly exciting.

Kanchelskis was great though for 18 months. I thought he signalled a new dawn for us. Sadly, it wasn't to be. A missed opportunity back then.

Gavin Johnson 45 Posted 12/06/2026 at 00:54:21

Liam, Yep, there's been a few of them false new dawns over the years. I think we were a striker away from really going to the next level under Joe Royle when we had that team with players like Kanchelskis and Gary Speed.

I remember we went for Collymore and missed out on him to Liverpool. Who knows if he'd have done the business for us but he was one of the best strikers in the league at Forest.

Yeah, I totally agree with you on Ndiaye that sometimes it feels like style over substance, but I guess that's why we attach the 'maverick' tag to players like him. You may be right too that, after years of seeing rubbish football, he's given us some of the excitement that we've been starved of for years.

Lester Yip 46 Posted 13/06/2026 at 06:15:25

Agree with most that -- if £60M offer we should sell. Grealish is a different kind of player. He controls the ball well and finds the pass. More clinical. A loan would be ideal.

Then it will free up a spot of George. Perhaps if Dibling finally steps up. Anyway, it's a good time to look at how Hammond, supposed to be a transfer expert, executes this time. His last picks on Anzou and Dibling are disappointing, while Dewsbury-Hall is great. Let's see.

Michael Kenrick 47 Posted 13/06/2026 at 08:55:59

Good posts, Gavin. I can totally relate to how you are describing Ndiaye. As you say, he is an elite dribbler... a far too infrequent scorer of brilliant goals... and an incredibly rare provider of assists.

And a good job handling the snipers who want to tell you how to think, feel and react.

Mal van Schaick 48 Posted 13/06/2026 at 09:20:37

He is an okay player with mediocre players around him.

Looks like we will have to sell him as the Premier League are costing us £35M in their quest to destroy Everton.

Dave Abrahams 49 Posted 13/06/2026 at 11:15:13

Whatever the merits of Grealish, I don’t deny he had some, and Ndiaye I think observers of them would have to admit that one of them was involved in the game a lot more than the other who was stuck to the left touchline a majority of the game and could have done a lot more than he did.

Mick O\\\'Malley 50 Posted 13/06/2026 at 11:32:37

Andy@ 34 Don't forget our very own Mo Besic, played brilliantly against Messi, came here and spent the vast majority of time injured Sorry but Rooney at 17 was better than Ndaiye is now in my opinion, but they are different types of players, and the player i was most excited about was James, I know we didn't have him long but I was gutted not to see him in the flesh, we sign an absolutely fantastic footballer and Covid stops us watching him live, typical Everton luck Me personally I couldn't care less if Ndaiye wants to move, players come and go, if we can get 3 players for his transfer fee then we'll be better off in my opinion

Christy Ring 51 Posted 13/06/2026 at 11:42:49

Liam#44 If I remember rightly, there was alot going on with Kanchelskis behind the scenes regarding money, and being Russian they're was more people involved, and he went through a bad patch, and out of nowhere got a transfer to Rangers, It was strange at the time?

John Collins 52 Posted 13/06/2026 at 11:43:48

Rooney is the second best player I've seen wearing an Everton shirt.

Martin Farrington 53 Posted 13/06/2026 at 12:14:16

John @ 52 Was I the best ? I always wore my Everton shirt when playing. My greatest stint being at Ramrod Reserves ( 5th team ). Player of the season (I turned up more than twice). Lol

John Collins 54 Posted 13/06/2026 at 12:16:56

You were 3rd best Martin. 😁

Christy Ring 55 Posted 13/06/2026 at 12:55:39

John#54 Who was your no.1 John, was it Ian Wilson😂

John Collins 56 Posted 13/06/2026 at 13:01:41

😂 He was 4th Christy

Colin Malone 57 Posted 13/06/2026 at 13:45:18

Love him, but if he doesn't want to stay, do one.

Dave Abrahams 58 Posted 13/06/2026 at 15:15:24

Mick (50) Mick you could be right about James Rodriguez being the most exciting player you saw playing for Everton because he was a player who could get you jumping out of your seat many times — he could have also been one of the worst players you could have seen with his lethargic couldn’t be bothered attitude in many games too. For me he played when he wanted to and Ancelotti let him get away with it.

John (52) Come on John who was your best player for the Blues— just to see if I can disagree with you although I think it would be hard to find a better player than Wayne Rooney!

John Collins 59 Posted 13/06/2026 at 15:26:45

Dave,

Who's the greatest of them all?

Dave Abrahams 60 Posted 13/06/2026 at 16:21:37

John (59)Yes John he’s up there with many others and not taking anything away from him but he was the final piece of the jigsaw that linked a great team together a team of many good players.

Bobby Collins was my best player, until Wayne came along— only two seasons granted, but Bobby like Wayne came into poor teams and they were standout players, Collins for me dragged a very poor squad together and dragged them up season by season albeit getting very good players to join him make a very good team but sold before he could get the medals he richly deserved.

Rooney was not used an enough by Moyes, protecting a lad he thought(?) but that lad was a young physical man despite being only 16 and he became a standout player which nobody could deny although it was the wrong.

On reflection Bobby Collins become higher rated on their length of appearance for the Blues than Wayne, but not on their careers and Bobby outrages Ball for me because of the length of his career and what he achieved in it.

At the end of the day it’s all about opinions and no doubt other Everton fans will have other players than the three I’ve mentioned with many thinking what might have been regarding Tony Kay only for his bit of foolishness!

Alan McGuffog 61 Posted 13/06/2026 at 16:23:38

Who's the player with the most ?

Dave Abrahams 62 Posted 13/06/2026 at 16:31:26

At the above (60) Paragraph 3 should have ended “although it was with the wrong team” And in paragraph 4 it should have read “ Bobby outrates Ball for me” not outrages! “