Everton transfer plans could alter after new Iliman Ndiaye development at AFCON
There were fears Everton star Iliman Ndiaye had suffered a long-term injury.
Everton lost 2-0 to Chelsea on 13 December in the Premier League, which is also the last time Ndiaye turned out for the Toffees.
He then linked up with Senegal to prepare for AFCON, whilst Everton’s attacking production took a hit without Ndiaye in David Moyes’ team.
A 1-0 defeat to Arsenal before Burnley held Moyes’ men to a 0-0 draw on 27 December followed in the immediate aftermath of Ndiaye’s departure, and then, Everton‘s worst fears came true.
Everton get huge Iliman Ndiaye injury update from AFCON
Ndiaye came off injured at half-time in Senegal’s 3-0 win over Benin on 30 December, with it being revealed that the 25-year-old was going to undergo tests in order to determine how serious his problem was.
That, understandably, sparked major fears back on Merseyside, as Everton chiefs began to plan for a crisis situation that would force them into transfer action this month should they receive word their talismanic forward would be sidelined for an extended period of time.
However, all at Hill Dickinson Stadium will be breathing a huge sigh of relief on Saturday night, as a development from AFCON paints a hugely hopeful picture.
In Senegal’s 3-1 win over Sudan in the AFCON Round of 16, Ndiaye was named as an unused substitute on the Senegalese bench, as Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye captained the team to a big victory.
As such, any fears over Ndiaye’s injury being a serious one will now have evaporated, as he wouldn’t be part of the matchday squad if he was suffering from a significant injury issue.
Ndiaye’s Everton impact by the numbers this season
Swiftly after joining Everton in the summer of 2024 from Marseille, it was already abundantly clear that the Toffees had struck transfer gold on Ndiaye.
Eleven goals in 37 total appearances during his debut 2024-25 campaign didn’t tell the full story of just how good he was, with the Senegal star quickly establishing himself as one of Everton’s best players.
- Ndiaye has scored four goals and provided two assists in 16 Premier League games this season
- He’s won 36 caps for Senegal, scoring three goals
- Ndiaye scored just four goals in 46 appearances for Marseille
However, prior to his AFCON adventure this winter, he’s taken yet another step forward in his development on Merseyside, and alongside Jack Grealish, has begun forming a fearsome duo down the Everton flanks.
As per FotMob, Ndiaye has completed 34 successful dribbles, won 96 duels, made 95 recoveries, took 52 touches in the opposition box, registered 12 shots on target and has won 20 fouls in the Premier League this season.
He remains Everton’s joint-top scorer with four goals alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, which perhaps reveals a major issue the Toffees must address this month if they are to keep pace in the European football race, as neither of those two players have kicked a ball in anger in Moyes’ team since that aforementioned Chelsea game on 13 December.
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