Al-Hilal Closing In on Iliman Ndiaye Transfer

Al-Hilal are closing in on a deal for Iliman Ndiaye after agreeing personal terms with the Everton forward, with only the fee now standing between the Saudi club and one of the Premier League’s most watchable talents.

The Saudi Pro League side have tracked Ndiaye all summer and, according to Football Insider, have now stepped up their pursuit after weeks of groundwork behind the scenes. The 26-year-old, who arrived at Goodison Park from Marseille for £15million, has developed into a central figure on Merseyside and a marquee name in Everton’s recent revival.

Now he wants out.

Ndiaye is understood to have made it clear he intends to leave and has already turned down several new contract offers since the start of the year. That stance has forced Everton to confront the prospect of losing a player who has delivered 17 goals and three assists in 71 appearances for the club since 2024.

Al-Hilal sense their moment. Personal terms are agreed, the player is on board, and talks with Everton are under way. The pressure now sits squarely on the negotiating table: the fee.

Everton’s position is simple. They know what they have, and they want to be paid for it. With Ndiaye under contract and at the peak of his powers, the club are determined to drive the price as high as possible, especially with Saudi money in play. Football Insider report that Al-Hilal are trying to “progress this deal as soon as possible”, but the valuation gap remains the main obstacle.

Behind the scenes, planning for life after Ndiaye has already begun.

David Moyes, tasked with reshaping his attack if the Senegal international departs, will need another creative spark to carry the load between the lines. Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness has told Football Insider that the club are eyeing Bologna’s Jonathan Rowe as a potential replacement.

Rowe, an England youth international, comes off a strong season in Serie A, where he produced eight goals and four assists in 43 appearances. Those numbers, combined with his age and profile, fit the kind of forward-thinking, resale-friendly recruitment Everton now need to get right.

There is also the money. Reports have suggested Everton would be ready to accept an offer in the region of £70million for Ndiaye, a figure that would transform their room for manoeuvre in the market and fund a significant rebuild around Moyes’ ideas.

For now, the saga hangs on one question: will Al-Hilal meet Everton’s price for their star man, or will one of the Premier League’s most entertaining attackers start the season still wearing blue?