City sign fourth African – this time it’s a Senegal star

We saw Rayan Cherki at the weekend, once again causing havoc in the opposition defence since joining Manchester City. The Frenchman toys with defenders, twists and turns with the ball, pulls off tricks and does things that few footballers in the Premier League, or even in Europe, can do with a ball at their feet. And yet he is not even City’s most effective dribbler. In fact, he will not even be among the top three at the Etihad, because City have just unveiled Iliman Ndiaye. When Liverpool blocked Cody Gakpo’s departure, City reacted expertly, taking advantage of Richarlison’s intervention that scuppered Tottenham’s deal with the Senegalese forward, and luring one of the Premier League’s best dribblers to the Etihad. Everton’s coffers have now been boosted by a fixed 70 million euros, with the Toffees able to earn another six million euros in bonuses.

And now we can talk about Manchester’s dribbling division. Because Enzo Maresca has Jeremy Doku, the player with the most successful dribbles last season (84), Ndiaye, runner-up in that category (73), and Antoine Semenyo, who finished last season fourth among the most prolific dribblers in the English top flight (59). So, three of the four players with the most successful dribbles are now playing for City. When we add Rayan Cherki (51), who ranks eighth, it is clear that opposition defenders on the island are in for plenty of headaches, twisted ankles, falls on their backsides and even more moments of magic that bring fans to the stadiums.

From Everton’s perspective, it is a fantastic piece of business and the second-biggest sale in the club’s history, behind record-holder Romelu Lukaku, who moved to Manchester United for 84.7 million euros in 2017. The Toffees signed Ndiaye from Marseille for 18 million euros in June 2024 and, after just 17 goals and four assists in 74 appearances, managed to sell him for four times as much. But, like many footballing artists, Ndiaye is not someone who should be judged solely on his numbers.

“I have worked my whole life for an opportunity like this. Manchester City are one of the best clubs in the world. Growing up, I watched this club win everything. Now I have the opportunity to write my own chapter in this incredible story, and I will give everything I have to make the most of it” the Senegalese forward said upon arriving at the Etihad. First impression: Manchester City have taken a qualitative leap on the right wing by replacing Savinho with Ndiaye. With the Senegalese’s signing, City’s current spending has risen to 381 million euros, and with Enzo Fernandez, whose transfer is expected to make waves before the window closes, City will be over the half-billion mark.