Saudi Club Come Calling: Everton Player What Should Toffees Do?

Saudi Club Come Calling: Everton Player What Should Toffees Do? Al Hilal have opened negotiations to sign 26‑year‑old Senegalese winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton, based in Merseyside, for a fee reported at around £64 million, a development disclosed by Fabrizio Romano on July 26 in the summer transfer window.

The Saudi Pro League champions, fresh off raiding West Ham for Crysencio Summerville in a blockbuster deal worth up to £68 million, are targeting Ndiaye as their next marquee signing.

Initially, in JULY, the situation hinged entirely on whether Everton were willing to sell. The player’s agent was then informed of the interest and quickly showed receptiveness, pushing the move forward.

Saudi giant Al Hilal outbids Roma for Summerville in €76m deal

During the 2025/26 campaign Ndiaye recorded six goals and three assists in 34 appearances, featuring in 32 Premier League matches and two EFL Cup ties. David Moyes regards him as central to Everton’s attacking plans, valuing his ability to break lines, carry the ball out of tight spots and provide an unpredictable edge.

Everton’s Squad Cost Ratio sits in the high‑80s to low‑90s percent for the 2026/27 financial window, leaving almost no margin for error. Having already invested in Tyrique George, Merlin Rohl and Hayden Hackney without any major outgoing transfers, the club faces a delicate balance that £64 million could alleviate.

Al Hilal operate with a virtually unlimited state‑backed budget, making resistance to such offers typically futile. Their contract with Ndiaye runs until 2029, giving Everton leverage but also underscoring the attractiveness of a £64 million windfall.

For Everton, the £64 million fee represents a staggering return on the €18 million paid for Ndiaye in 2024, yet losing their most creative asset without a ready replacement could leave Moyes short‑staffed in attack. For Al Hilal, securing Ndiaye would add another high‑profile player to a squad already bolstered by Summerville, reinforcing their ambition in the Saudi Pro League.