Arsenal won’t be getting into a bidding war with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal over Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye. The Gunners had been monitoring the Senegalese star for weeks, but a jaw-dropping financial package from the Saudi Pro League side has effectively ended their interest.
It’s a familiar story in modern football. A Premier League club identifies a target, does its homework, and then watches a Gulf state club blow the deal wide open with numbers nobody else can match. So where does this leave Arsenal — and where does Ndiaye end up?
Why Arsenal Pulled the Plug
According to Football Insider, Ndiaye is deep in discussions over a move to Al Hilal. Personal terms have already been agreed, with Saudi outlet Asharq Al-Awsat reporting a staggering weekly salary of £270,000 on the table.
That’s life-altering money. And Arsenal simply aren’t prepared to compete on those terms.
The Gunners had Ndiaye on a shortlist of attacking options this summer. His dribbling ability, creativity, and Premier League experience made him an appealing candidate. But Mikel Arteta’s side have never been the type to overpay in wage-driven auctions.
It’s worth noting that Arsenal weren’t the only Premier League club priced out. ESPN reported that Manchester United and Aston Villa also registered interest in Ndiaye. Neither has been able to keep pace with Al Hilal’s financial firepower either.
Everton, for their part, aren’t making this easy for anyone. The Athletic reported that the Toffees are demanding around £70 million before they’ll even open formal talks. That’s the same fee they banked when Anthony Gordon left for Newcastle in 2023 — and they clearly see Ndiaye in that bracket.
Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider he believes the deal will get done. “It looks like Al Hilal are going to get their man, and I think Everton will get a good price,” he said.
What Ndiaye Brings and What Everton Lose
There’s no denying Ndiaye’s quality. In two seasons at Everton since his £15 million move from Marseille, he’s contributed 18 goal involvements across Premier League campaigns.
Here’s what made him stand out last season:
- Six goals and three assists in 32 Premier League appearances
- 136 dribbles attempted, 73 completed — both squad-leading figures
- 147 take-ons attempted, also the most at the club
He’s not a prolific scorer, sure. But his ability to carry the ball, break lines, and create chances from nothing made him one of the league’s most watchable players. Can Everton really replace that? That’s the question David Moyes will be wrestling with.
Ndiaye himself hinted earlier this summer that he had bigger ambitions. “You don’t know where football will take you next,” he told SPORTbible during the World Cup. “I want to be the best player and to do that, you have to play at the top.”
Whether Saudi Arabia counts as “the top” is debatable. But £270,000 a week speaks pretty loudly.
Where Arsenal Go From Here
With Ndiaye off the table, Arsenal’s focus shifts elsewhere. They’ve already signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge to bolster the left wing. Sporting director Andrea Berta described him as “an excellent finisher with both feet” who “possesses incredible technical ability.”
But Tzolis alone probably isn’t enough. Reports continue to link the Gunners with Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, who starred in Spain’s World Cup triumph. Williams carries a €90 million release clause, though, so he wouldn’t come cheap either.
Arsenal are also in talks with Vinicius Jr camp on a potential record braking move to north London. The Deal in currently on the tipping point with Real said to have offered Vini Jr with an ultimatum to sign contract or be sold this summer (basically a take-it-or-leave-it kind of offer).
Arsenal’s approach this window has been measured. They’re not desperate buyers, and they clearly have a salary structure they won’t blow up for any single player. That discipline has served them well in recent years. It did, after all, help deliver their first Premier League title since 2004 last season.
Losing out on Ndiaye stings, but it isn’t a crisis. Arsenal have options, and the window still has time to run. For Ndiaye, a career in the Saudi sunshine — alongside Senegal teammates Sadio Mane and Idrissa Gueye — looks increasingly likely.
Sometimes the money just talks too loud.
