Everton confirm £15.6m Iliman Ndiaye signing from Marseille on a five-year deal as Toffees complete their third signing of the transfer window

Everton have completed their third signing of the summer with the arrival of Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye from French side Marseille.

The former Sheffield United star has joined on a five-year deal for a fee believed to be around £15.6million plus add-ons and follows Tim Iroegbunam and Jack Harrison in signing for the Goodison Park club this window.

Ndiaye, 24, failed to make a huge impression after switching south Yorkshire for the south of France last summer, scoring just four goals in 46 appearances for Marseille. But Everton believe they have completed some shrewd business to sign a player they have courted for some time.

Everton have kept an eye on Ndiaye since he started to excel at Sheffield United, then in the Championship, in which he scored 15 goals and notched 12 assists as the Blades were promoted.

‘I am so pleased to be an Everton player,’ said Ndiaye, a versatile attacking player who can play at No 10, as a striker or out wide. 

‘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. 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.’

Ndiaye featured at the 2022 World Cup for Senegal and has won 20 caps for the African nation. 

He was born in Rouen, France, but has a Senegalese father. International team-mate Idrissa Gana Gueye, who has made 169 Everton appearances over two spells, was influential in persuading Ndiaye to move to Merseyside, as was director of football Kevin Thelwell and manager Sean Dyche.

Ndiaye joins ahead of the final year at Goodison Park and he 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.’