City's ew signing Iliman Ndiaye says he’s keen to entertain City fans while winning games of football.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT:

The 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium and follows the likes of Elliot Anderson, Gerónimo Rulli, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Allan in bolstering Enzo Maresca’s young, hungry squad. 

A prodigiously talented attacking midfielder who can play on either wing, Ndiaye has garnered a reputation as one of the most enjoyable players to watch in the Premier League over the last two terms at Everton. 

Asked in his first City Studios interview to describe the way he plays, Ndiaye lit up. 

“A really skilful player who likes to dribble,” he began.  

“I like to get fans off their seat but most importantly, to help the team win. And by using my best attributes, I feel like I can do that here.” 

Our new man took an unusual route to the top of the game. 

Growing up in northern France, he initially moved to Marseille in the south of the country before heading on to Dakar in Senegal. 

He then came to the UK, where he started playing for Boreham Wood and with the Rising Ballers before starting his path in the professional game at 19. 

With all that in mind, Ndiaye credits his dad – a dancer and choreographer - with building a lot of the foundations for the way he dribbles and moves on the pitch. 

“With my dad, I’ve been practicing it since I was young. Obviously until now, it’s natural. Whatever I do, it comes from everything I was doing when I was younger,” he said. 

“I was really keen on that dribbling side, watching the best dribblers in the world on tapes and then just practicing it on the pitch with my dad.  

“Pele. Maradona. Zidane. Messi. All these dribbling players. Obviously Neymar, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo the Brazilian. All the best ones.  

“If you want to be the best you have to look at what the best people do and that’s where my dribbling is coming from.  

“My dad has been really important. From my first training. From my first team in France. 

“He’s always been by my side, with my mum, with my sisters, they’ve always been there and had that belief in me that one day I could make it. 

“Obviously they believed what I believed too in me wanting to be one of the best players in the world, reaching the top level, so they’ve been really important for me and they’ve helped me get to where I am today.” 

Ndiaye enjoyed a strong relationship with Everton fans and believes it’s vital that the players and fans work together if a side is to be successful. 

“It’s really important,” he stated. 

“They help you on the pitch, you help each other, they give you a boost and fire.  

“As much as you already have that fire to win for the team, you want to win for the fans. You want to see them happy and be able to connect with them.”