'They made me feel wanted' - Everton announce £20m striker signing

Everton have announced the signing of striker Iliman Ndiaye from Ligue 1 club Marseille.

The 24-year-old moves to Goodison Park for a reported £20m and has put pen to paper on a five-year contract until the end of June 2029.

Ndiaye departs Marseille after just one season with the French side where he failed to reach the heights expected, scoring just four goals in 46 appearances across all competitions.

The Senegal international is hoping to reignite his career back in England having previously excelled at Sheffield United, registered 36 goals involvements (22 goals, 14 assists) in 88 games during a four-year spell at Bramall Lane.

Ndiaye becomes Everton's third signing of the summer transfer window after midfielder Tim Iroegbunam and winger Jack Harrison, the latter has re-joined on loan from Leeds United.

"I am so pleased to be an Everton player," Ndiaye told evertontv. "The main reasons I wanted to join were how big the club is, its history and the part I can play in helping the team in the forward direction it is going in. I'm so excited and can't wait to get going.

Iliman Ndiaye is a Blue! ✍️🔵 pic.twitter.com/qy61FvlOQ8

— Everton (@Everton) July 3, 2024

Ndiaye explains how Everton duo made him 'feel wanted'

"Kevin [Thelwell] and the manager (Sean Dyche) both spoke to me and made me feel wanted. My Senegal teammate Idrissa [Gueye] also played a part and spoke highly of the club and a lot of good things.

"As a player, I like to dribble, show skills and get the fans out their seats. I want to score goals and get assists but I also like to work hard. I love running, chasing the ball, getting the team high up the pitch. As a striker, you're the first defender. I love doing that bit.

"I'm so excited. I want to come in and carry on from the team's progress last season. I feel like I'll be ready to help and I just want to give it my all to get this club higher up the table."

Asked about playing for Everton in their final season at Goodison Park and his aspirations for the future at their new stadium, Ndiaye added: "It's funny because someone said to me, 'Imagine you scoring the first goal at the new stadium'. It would be a quiz question for so long, 'Who scored the first goal for Everton at the new stadium?'. At that moment, my daughter, who can't really talk yet, said, 'Dada'! Great answer! That's my target.

"I'll be very proud to be part of the last season to play Goodison Park, too. There's history here. I'm really happy to now be part of that.

"I'm so excited to play in front of all these fans because when you watch the games, you hear them on the TV. I'll try to get them off their seats and they will try to push me on the pitch to get them off their seats. I'm just so excited."

© Imago

Dyche: 'Ndiaye is a really positive addition'

Expressing his delight at Ndiaye's arrival, Dyche said: "Iliman adds versatility to our attacking options and strengthens our forward line as we look to build on the progress we made as a team last season in terms of chances created.

"He is still young but has experience at European and international level and we feel he will be a really positive addition to our squad."

Director of Football Thelwell, added: "Iliman is a player we have admired for a long time and we are delighted to bring a much sought-after player of his quality to Everton.

"We think he will excite Evertonians and give our attack a different dimension. He has performed in Europe with a big club like Marseille and, at 24, we are confident that he can be an excellent player for us for many years to come."

Ndiaye will hope to make a quick impression under Dyche during pre-season in the hope of making his Everton debut in their opening Premier League match of the 2024-25 season at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.