Transfer Centre

Everton 'pushing' to finalise £20m deal for Senegal international striker

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 25 June 2024

Deal agreed: Everton 'closing in' on £20m striker signing

Everton are reportedly closing in on the £20m signing of a Senegal international striker, who has agreed a five-year contract with the Toffees.

Everton have reportedly reached an agreement with Marseille to sign striker Iliman Ndiaye.

The Toffees have already been busy in the summer transfer window, with the £9m arrival of midfielder Tim Iroegbunam from Aston Villa followed by the return of winger Jack Harrison on loan from Leeds United.

Sean Dyche's side have also confirmed that veteran wideman Ashley Young has signed a one-year contract extension to keep him a Goodison Park until the end of June 2025.

Amid their well-documented financial issues and wish to comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, Everton are on the lookout for more additions to bolster Dyche's first-team squad.

Recruiting a new centre-forward is thought to be high on the Toffees' agenda and Senegal international Ndiaye has quickly emerged as one of their primary targets.

Marseille's Iliman Ndiaye celebrates scoring a goal on February 15, 2024 [IMAGO] © Imago

Everton agree Ndiaye deal with Marseille

According to multiple reports, including one from Sky Sports News, Everton have agreed a £20m fee with Marseille to sign Ndiaye, who has also agreed to sign a five-year contract at Goodison Park.

A separate report from journalist Fabrizio Romano claims that other Premier League clubs have expressed an interest in Ndiaye, but the ex-Sheffield United man has chosen to join Everton.

The Toffees are now in the final stages of completing the 24-year-old's transfer to Merseyside, with the striker soon expected to undergo a medical.

Marseille - who are closing in on the appointment of former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi - are set to receive the same £20m fee that they spent to lure Ndiaye from Sheffield United just under 11 months ago.

Atalanta BC's Marten de Roon in action with Marseille's Iliman Ndiaye on May 9, 2024 © Reuters

Ndiaye keen to put Marseille struggles behind him

Ndiaye put pen to paper on a five-year contract when he joined boyhood club Marseille and expressed his excitement for returning "home" to a club where he spent a brief spell in their academy as a youngster.

However, Ndiaye failed to reached the heights expected in France and scored just four goals in 46 appearances across all competitions, netting three times in 30 Ligue 1 outings.

The striker is now seemingly keen to revitalise his career back in England where he registered 36 goals involvements (22 goals, 14 assists) in 88 games during a four-year spell at Sheffield United.

Ndiaye has only ever made one appearance in the Premier League back in 2021, while the majority of his success with the Blades came in the Championship, most notably netting 14 goals and providing 11 assists in 46 matches to help the South Yorkshire club secure promotion two seasons ago.

Everton's pursuit of Ndiaye comes at a time when the future of Dominic Calvert-Lewin is believed to be uncertain; the striker has just one year left on his contract and although Newcastle United have allegedly cooled their interest, AC Milan have since been tipped to make a move.