Manchester City Snatches Ndiaye from Tottenham in £65m Deal
Manchester City ripped up the final day script of the transfer window, swooping in late to snatch Iliman Ndiaye from under Tottenham’s nose in a £65m deal with Everton.
The Premier League champions agreed an initial £60m fee with a further £5m in add-ons, according to The Athletic, muscling past Spurs just as the north London club thought they had their man. What began as Tottenham’s contingency plan ended as City’s statement signing.
City move fast, Spurs left scrambling
Tottenham had turned to the Senegal international after failing to prise Cody Gakpo from Liverpool. Gakpo, also on City’s radar, stayed put. For Spurs, Ndiaye was the next big swing.
City didn’t wait around. Once they sensed an opening, they accelerated talks with Everton and closed the deal, strengthening an already fearsome attack and underlining their pulling power at the top of the market.
For Ndiaye, 26, the choice was straightforward.
“It’s easy to make the decision about whether you want to be at Manchester City or not,” he said after sealing the move. “You can see the recent history; you want to be part of that project.”
Those conversations with City’s hierarchy sealed it almost instantly.
“They talked to me about where we could go, what we could achieve with me in the team, and I was interested from the beginning,” he explained. “There was nothing else that I wanted other than joining Manchester City.”
He spoke like a player already picturing himself in sky blue, locked into a long-term vision.
“Obviously, you want to be part of this new project. I’ve seen recently what they’ve been doing, and I feel like I will fit right in it,” Ndiaye said. “I’m super excited to start. It’s an unbelievable moment. I’ve worked so hard to get to this point and I’m super excited and really grateful for this opportunity.”
A blockbuster window at the Etihad
Ndiaye’s arrival was not an isolated flourish. It capped a ferocious late surge from City in the market.
On the same day, they completed the £125m signing of Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, a deal that equals the British transfer record. The move reunites the Argentina international with manager Enzo Maresca and sends another jolt through a league already accustomed to City’s financial muscle.
One record-equalling transfer. One hijacked target. One squad that looks even more ruthless.
Spurs turn back to Chelsea
While City celebrated, Tottenham were forced into a rapid rethink.
Having missed out on both Gakpo and Ndiaye, they swung back towards Stamford Bridge and pushed through a late loan for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk before the deadline. The move reunites the former Shakhtar Donetsk star with Roberto De Zerbi, a coach who once unlocked his best football.
City leave the window with two marquee additions and another rival frustrated. Tottenham, again, are left to find out whether their Plan C can keep pace with a club that rarely has to settle for second choice.
