Man City Hijack £65m Ndiaye Deal as Spurs Target Mudryk in London 2026

Key Points

• Manchester City agreed a £65 million deal with Everton for Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye.
• The transfer fee includes £60 million guaranteed up front, plus £5 million in performance-related add-ons.
• Tottenham Hotspur had been in talks to sign Ndiaye after missing out on Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo, but Manchester City stepped in late with a competing offer.
• Ndiaye told Everton officials he preferred a move to Manchester City over Tottenham after learning about the club’s offer.
• Tottenham turned their attention to Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk, agreeing a season-long loan that includes an option to buy.
• Mudryk wanted the move to Tottenham to play under manager Roberto De Zerbi, who previously coached him at Shakhtar Donetsk.
• Tottenham are also in talks with Chelsea about a potential transfer for defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) September 3, 2026 –As reported by Sam Tabuteau of Evening Standard, Manchester City have struck a high-profile £65 million deal with Everton for forward Iliman Ndiaye, successfully hijacking Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of the Senegal international on transfer deadline day.

According to Tabuteau, Manchester City agreed to pay an initial guaranteed sum of £60 million to Everton, alongside £5 million in performance-based add-ons. Spurs had originally turned their focus to the 26-year-old attacker after their prospective move for Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo fell through, only to see their late transfer arrangements collapse as the Etihad Stadium club intervened.

How did Manchester City hijack Tottenham Hotspur’s move for Iliman Ndiaye?

As reported by Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk, negotiations between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur were progressing steadily before Manchester City re-entered the picture with fresh contact. Bailey stated that once Ndiaye was made aware of City’s firm financial approach, the Senegalese forward made it clear to Everton officials that his primary destination was Enzo Maresca’s side.

According to reporting by Stefan Bienkowski of Transfermarkt, referencing details from The Athletic, City pivoted towards Ndiaye after their own separate pursuit of Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo failed to reach an agreement. Bienkowski highlighted that Everton had offered Ndiaye multiple contract extensions over the course of the preceding 12 months, but were ultimately resigned to losing the player, who possessed a contract valid through June 2029.

As documented by Goal, Ndiaye’s transfer fee makes him the most expensive Senegalese player in football history, surpassing recent Premier League window shifts. Instead of travelling to North London for medical evaluations, Ndiaye underwent formal fitness testing in the North West of England ahead of completing his move to Manchester.

Why did Tottenham turn to Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk following the deal collapse?

As reported by Sports Desk at Eastern Herald, following the swift collapse of the Ndiaye negotiations, Tottenham Hotspur instantly pivoted their attention to alternative attacking options, securing a season-long loan deal for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk.

According to reporting from beIN SPORTS, the temporary move includes a non-mandatory option for Tottenham to acquire the 25-year-old Ukrainian international permanently for a fee reported at £75 million.

As reported by UNN, Mudryk selected Spurs despite interest from several other European suitors due to the opportunity to work again under manager Roberto De Zerbi, who previously coached him at Shakhtar Donetsk during the 2021-22 campaign.

During his official presentation, as quoted by UNN, Mudryk expressed his delight at the transfer:

“It is a wonderful feeling. I cannot wait to start training and playing for the club, and I am very happy to reunite with Roberto De Zerbi. I am a player who brings speed and creativity, and I want to help both in attack and defense.”

Addressing the media, Roberto De Zerbi reaffirmed his faith in the winger’s abilities:

“Having worked with Misha earlier in his career, I know exactly what he can bring to our team. He has the quality to change a game with his speed and ability in one-vs-one situations… I will demand a lot from Misha, and our task is to help him find the best version of himself.”

Mudryk’s competitive return follows his clearance from a long-running doping suspension that began in late 2024, which was officially resolved when WADA confirmed procedural standards meant charges were lifted, enabling him to resume professional competition.

Explore More Tottenham Hotspur News

Tottenham Signs Omar Marmoush on Season-Long Loan

Tottenham Hotspur Ticket & Hotel Deals from £135

What additional transfer activity is occurring between Tottenham and Chelsea?

As reported by Sam Tabuteau of Evening Standard, Tottenham are also actively pursuing the potential signing of Chelsea centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo. Spurs had initially explored a loan structure for the 28-year-old defender, but reports indicate they are receptive to a permanent transfer, particularly as Kevin Danso continues to attract firm transfer interest from Sunderland.

Background of the Development

The sudden escalation in transfer activity between Manchester City, Tottenham, Everton, and Chelsea stems from a complex domino effect occurring in the final days of the summer transfer window.

Everton originally acquired Iliman Ndiaye to reinforce their forward line, with the player quickly establishing himself as one of the club’s key creative assets. Despite Everton’s persistent attempts over the past year to tie the Senegal international down to a long-term contract extension on improved terms, Ndiaye resisted extensions. When top-four contenders began expressing concrete transfer interest, Everton were forced to consider monetising the asset rather than holding an unhappy player.

Concurrently, Tottenham Hotspur entered the final weeks of the window seeking dynamic wide additions following tactical adjustments under Roberto De Zerbi. After targeted negotiations for Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo broke down due to valuation discrepancies, Spurs immediately identified Ndiaye as an ideal profile. However, Manchester City’s late entry—triggered by their own failed inquiry for Gakpo—completely altered the landscape. City’s superior financial capacity and UEFA Champions League standing allowed them to swiftly agree to Everton’s £65 million asking price, prompting Ndiaye to choose the Etihad Stadium.

Spurs’ secondary pivot to Mykhailo Mudryk capitalized on a unique market opportunity. Mudryk, who arrived at Chelsea in January 2023 for £88.5 million, experienced an interrupted career trajectory following an extended absence from competitive play due to a provisional doping suspension. With the ban formally lifted in July 2026, Chelsea sought a structural loan environment where the player could rehabilitate his market value and gain regular minutes, paving the way for a logical reunion with De Zerbi.

Prediction: How This Development Affects Premier League Club Audiences

This multi-club transfer sequence carries substantial tactical and structural ramifications for the respective supporter bases of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Everton:

1. Manchester City Supporters

The arrival of Iliman Ndiaye provides Enzo Maresca with a versatile, high-dribbling attacking asset capable of operating across the entire front line. City fans can expect enhanced tactical variation in tight, low-block domestic matches. Ndiaye’s efficiency in one-on-one isolations adds depth to City’s multi-competition push across the Premier League and European fixtures.

2. Tottenham Hotspur Supporters

For Spurs fans, missing out on Ndiaye is balanced by the arrival of Mykhailo Mudryk under Roberto De Zerbi. While Mudryk lacks recent match sharpness after 22 months away from competitive football, De Zerbi’s known system offers the exact environment needed to maximize his pace and direct transition threats. If De Zerbi successfully reignites Mudryk’s form, Tottenham gain an elite, high-upside attacker at minimal initial financial risk via a loan structure. Furthermore, potential defensive additions like Tosin Adarabioyo will provide necessary squad depth for Tottenham’s demanding schedule.

3. Everton Supporters

Everton fans face immediate short-term concern following the loss of their primary creative forward late in the transfer window. However, securing a total package of £65 million provides significant financial flexibility and balance sheet relief for the club’s board. The ultimate impact on Everton’s campaign will depend heavily on how effectively David Moyes and the recruitment team reinvest these funds into structural squad depth prior to the window closing.