Ndiaye's Future: Manchester City and Arsenal Battle for Everton Star
Manchester City and Arsenal are locked in a high-stakes battle for Everton forward Ndiaye, with both Premier League heavyweights circling as the Senegal star edges towards a crossroads in his career, according to talkSPORT.
Everton, though, are standing firm. And they are doing it with a price tag.
The club have slapped an £80 million valuation on Ndiaye, a figure that underlines just how central he has become to David Moyes’ plans and how highly they rate his future. With the attacker tied down on Merseyside until the summer of 2029, the Toffees know they are negotiating from a position of strength and are prepared to use it.
What has shifted the mood is Ndiaye’s stance on his future. Earlier this summer, he rejected a new contract offer from Everton, declining the chance to commit long term to Goodison Park. That decision has been read across the league as a clear signal: he is ready to test himself at the very top of European football.
City and Arsenal did not need a second invitation.
This is not the first time Ndiaye has edged towards the exit. He came close to a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal earlier in the window, a transfer that would have placed him among the growing list of European names heading to the Middle East. The deal collapsed before completion, but the scale of Al Hilal’s interest underlined how far his reputation now stretches beyond England.
For Arsenal, the chase carries an extra layer of intrigue. Mikel Arteta has been searching for a forward to complete his attacking jigsaw, a player capable of elevating an already slick front line. The dream signing remains Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, but the Argentine’s preference for a move to Barcelona has dragged that pursuit into difficult territory and left the Gunners exploring alternatives.
Ndiaye has moved rapidly up that list. His versatility is a major part of the appeal: he can operate anywhere across the front three or drop in as a creative No. 10, offering Arteta different shapes and solutions in the final third. If the Alvarez pursuit collapses, Ndiaye is viewed as a serious, ready-made option rather than a consolation prize.
Across the divide, Manchester City are approaching the situation with their usual cold clarity. Enzo Maresca and his recruitment team have tracked Ndiaye closely since his return to English football from Ligue 1, and they see a player who ticks the boxes that matter most at the Etihad: technical quality, work rate, and the ability to thrive in tight, crowded spaces.
His rise at Everton has justified that attention. Since arriving from Marseille in 2024, Ndiaye has handled the Premier League’s physical intensity and tactical demands with impressive speed. Last season he produced six goals and three assists in 32 league appearances. On paper, those numbers do not place him among the division’s headline-grabbing scorers, but the story changes when you watch him over 90 minutes.
He links play. He carries the ball from deep. He knits Everton’s transitions from defence to attack and drags them up the pitch, traits that have made him indispensable to Moyes even without a flood of goals.
His impact is not limited to club football, either. Ndiaye has carved out a role with Senegal at international level and featured in their World Cup campaign, scoring once and registering two assists as they reached the last 32. That tournament only added to the sense that he belongs on the biggest stages.
So the picture is clear. Everton hold the contract and the leverage. Arsenal and City hold the allure of titles, Champions League nights, and global spotlight. Ndiaye, for now, sits right in the middle of one of the window’s most intriguing stand-offs.
How long can Everton resist when two of England’s modern superpowers are pulling at the same thread?
