Al-Hilal Closing In on Iliman Ndiaye Transfer from Everton
Al-Hilal are closing in on a deal for Everton star Iliman Ndiaye after agreeing personal terms with the forward, with only the transfer fee now standing between the Senegal international and a move to the Saudi Pro League.
The Saudi giants have tracked Ndiaye all summer, circling patiently while his situation at Goodison Park edged towards a breaking point. Now the move is accelerating. Talks with Everton are under way, and Al-Hilal believe they are in position to get it done.
Everton’s talisman at a crossroads
Since arriving from Marseille in a £15million deal, Ndiaye has grown into one of the Premier League’s most watchable attacking talents. Two seasons on Merseyside have brought 17 goals and three assists in 71 appearances since 2024, but those numbers only tell part of the story. He has become the player Everton fans expect to make something happen when the ball finds his feet.
That may soon be over.
Ndiaye has made it clear he wants to leave and has turned down several new contract offers since the start of the year. Everton, under financial pressure yet desperate not to be bullied in the market, are holding out for a major fee for a player who has become central to their attacking identity.
Al-Hilal, for their part, have already done the heavy lifting on the player side. Personal terms between Ndiaye and the Saudi club are agreed, and the mood in Riyadh is optimistic. From their perspective, this is now a negotiation with one party: Everton.
Fee the final battleground
The sticking point is price. Everton know exactly what they are losing: a 26-year-old in his prime, a crowd-pleaser, and one of the few players in the squad capable of changing the tempo of a game in an instant. That leverage explains why they are demanding a lofty fee before they even think about signing off on his departure.
Al-Hilal have opened talks and want to move quickly, but Everton will not be rushed. With Ndiaye intent on going and personal terms already in place, the balance of power is delicate. The deal feels close, yet it still hinges on whether the Saudi club are prepared to meet the valuation that would make the Toffees blink.
Planning for life after Ndiaye
Behind the scenes, Everton are already bracing for the worst-case scenario: an attack without Ndiaye. David Moyes will need a new creative heartbeat if his playmaker walks away in this window.
Former club chief Keith Wyness has indicated that Everton have turned their attention to Bologna’s Rowe as a potential replacement. The England youth international comes off a strong season in Serie A, with eight goals and four assists in 43 games, and fits the profile of an energetic, forward-thinking attacker who can carry some of the creative burden.
It is a clear signal from Everton: if Ndiaye goes, they intend to reinvest and reshape rather than simply absorb the loss.
For now, all roads lead back to the negotiating table. Al-Hilal have the player on side. Everton have the contract and the leverage. The next offer will tell whether this is the end of Ndiaye’s Goodison story or just the most dramatic chapter yet.
