The 2023/24 Premier League campaign turned into a difficult one for Everton as Financial Fair Play rules loomed large over the Goodison Park outfit and manager Sean Dyche’s side saw themselves docked points as punishment – despite their appeal.
With ongoing confusion about the potential takeover of the club and other off pitch issues ongoing, their plans for the coming 2024/24 campaign continue, and they have just announced the transfer capture of Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye from French Ligue 1 side Marseille.
The versatile 24 year old, who also plays as an attacking midfielder, has reportedly joined the club on a five year contract for a fee believed to be in the region of £15 million. With 20 international caps to his name, he has had an interesting career path, as back in 2019 he was still with Boreham Wood until Sheffield United took a chance on him. 87 appearances across all competitions in total for them, saw him score 22 times, until they ‘reluctantly’ accepted a claimed £20 million offer from Marseille for his services.
He had spent time at the club as a youth player, and although he featured 46 times for them last season and helped them into the Europa League semi finals, he only chipped in with four goals, so with most outlets tagging him as a striker and not an attacking midfielder, there will probably have been Evertonians out there wondering what the club were thinking.
He showed his real form in the English Championship, but they obviously believe he can step up to the Premier League level and given his age, significantly develop further, least it seems that this and the next few years are clearly in Dyche’s thoughts when it comes to his signing.
“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.”
Ndiaye is obviously the third capture of the summer so far from the club, as Leeds United winger Jack Harrison returns again on a season long loan spell, and midfielder Tim Iroegbunam has come in from Aston Villa on a permanent deal.
Director of football, Kevin Thelwell admitted that the player had been on their radar for a number of years, and at this moment in time they feel that he will fit right in and provide them with a very quick improvement to Dyche’s available first team options.
Blades fans will be interested in seeing what kind of adjustment he makes to the top flight level, and Everton fans will simply be looking for how quickly he can start to impress them as they will want to put the instability behind them. For Ndiaye, he will simply be delighted with the way his career is now going.