Everton transfer stance on Iliman Ndiaye as Al-Hilal ‘ready to swoop’ for Blues star

The Blues believe they are in a position of strength and that, while they do not want to sell him, any business would only take place on their terms

Everton feel the club is in a position of strength amid reports of interest in star player Iliman Ndiaye.

The winger is the subject of interest from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal according to transfer personality Fabrizio Romano. Everton are aware of interest but there has been no formal contact between the clubs as of Monday morning.

David Moyes has previously made clear Everton have no interest in sanctioning the departure of a key player and, given his contract status, the club believe they hold the cards should they receive an approach for the player.

Ndiaye has been an integral part of Everton’s plans since his arrival two years ago in a £15m deal from Marseille. The club had tracked him for a sustained period before that move and therefore were in a position to pounce as he struggled in the south of France.

OPINION

The 26-year-old’s Blues career took off with the arrival of Moyes in January 2025. The Senegal winger scored a stunning solo goal in Moyes’ first win of his return, against Tottenham Hotspur, and then kept his cool from the spot to seal a hard-fought victory at Brighton and Hove Albion. Those results allowed Moyes to quickly move Everton away from what had looked set to be a gruelling relegation battle.

Ndiaye then wrote his name in club history – twice – as he scored the last goals at Goodison Park and the first at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Other highlights followed last season, including against Sunderland and Chelsea, though his domestic campaign was interrupted by his Africa Cup of Nations commitments as he led Senegal to success in the competition, though the outcome of the final with Morocco has since been the subject of a legal dispute.

Ndiaye’s reputation grew with his success for club and country last season and Everton have been braced for interest in him as a result.

The ECHO has previously reported that Manchester United see him as a potential target and claims of interest from Saudi Arabia will come as no surprise.

Moyes addressed speculation over Ndiaye’s future directly in April, when he said: “He is the last person I would consider selling. There are others as well (that I wouldn’t want to sell), but my point is I have no interest in hearing the talk if there is talk out there.

“I don’t think there is any club that is not a selling club at the right value for their player. I am not saying that means he is for sale, I am not, I just think it is a genuine thing where there is a price where people would say: ‘Well, we have to do something.’

“But it is getting too hard to build teams and also supporters are looking for a quick return which managers are not getting. So why would we be giving up their better players?”

That position is understood to remain Everton’s stance as preparations ramp up for the new season. The club is not in a position where it needs to sell and, with three years left on his contract, they are in a place of strength to deal with any approaches.

While there is an acceptance club efforts to sign Ndiaye to an improved contract this year have not yet led to a new deal, there is no desire to sell Ndiaye and the club feels confident it will not be pushed into a sale that, at the very least, does not take place on their terms. That would only be countenanced with the prospect of significant profit on the £15m they paid for him, money that would further strengthen the club’s financial position from a regulatory perspective and potentially help support the squad rebuild started last summer.

Al-Hilal have already completed one high-profile deal with an English club this summer, signing winger Crysencio Summerville from relegated West Ham United in an initial £55m deal. Everton would likely point to that figure and emphasise Ndiaye’s sustained success in the Premier League and on the international stage and that, unlike the Hammers they do not need to sell players this summer, should Al-Hilal open serious talks over Ndiaye.

Ndiaye is yet to return to Finch Farm for pre-season due to the extended break given to players who featured at the World Cup.

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