Iliman Ndiaye
League: Premier League
Position: Left Winger
Club: Man City
Age: 26
Country: Senegal
Club History: Sheffield United, Hyde United (loan), Marseille, Everton, Manchester City
Nick Potts | Alamy
"When you watch Iliman play, you see the pure spirit of street football. He possesses that rare ability to improvise—something not taught in academies; it’s in his DNA."
— Thierry Henry
From street acrobat to the Etihad stage: Iliman Ndiaye's incredible journey.
Before his name appeared on the marquee fixtures of the English Premier League and Ligue 1, Iliman Ndiaye was known only to the concrete pitches of Paris’s suburbs and the sandy beaches of Tunisia. Today, whenever he touches the ball, it feels less like a football match and more like street freestyle dance—this is not technique forged through academic, formulaic training; it is a story of survival and unconditional love for the game.
Iliman's childhood did not resemble the typical path of modern stars. His father, Abdoulaye—himself a freestyler and a huge dance enthusiast—trained his son intensively from an early age. After the family moved from Senegal to France, his father would make five-year-old Iliman run with the ball in Paris parks—on grass, sand, and concrete alike. During his time at the Paris "Rouen" Academy, his talent was evident to everyone; however, family circumstances turned everything upside down—at the age of 11, Iliman moved to Tunisia.
In street football circles, a little-known story is still told today: while in Tunisia—where there were no European-standard academies—Iliman would train his body every day on the beach under the scorching sun. His father had devised specific exercises for him, such as running against the waves and practicing ball control in the sand. It was during this period that he developed his phenomenal sense of balance and his ability to outmaneuver an opponent in the tightest of spaces.
Moving from Tunisia to England proved to be another gruelling challenge for Ndiaye. When he arrived in England at the age of 16, he didn't even speak the language. Several professional clubs rejected him due to his "lack of physical strength." Before establishing himself in top-level football, Iliman made a name for himself in the world of football freestyle, posting videos on YouTube where he performed incredible tricks, He played for the semi-professional Boreham Wood and Rising Ballers (in a street league), while simultaneously working at a sandwich shop and studying at a local college.
"He doesn't just run; he dances with the ball. Playing against Iliman is a nightmare for defenders because you never know which way his body will go the next second."
— Gary Lineker
The real breakthrough came in 2019, when Sheffield United scouts spotted him and signed him to his first official professional contract. To gain match experience, he was sent on loan to the seventh-division club Hyde United. On muddy pitches where rough play often prevailed, the Parisian freestyler demonstrated his character. After returning to Sheffield, his star finally rose during the 2021–22 season. In the 2022–23 Championship campaign, Ndiaye scored 14 goals and provided 10 assists, playing a pivotal role in Sheffield's promotion to the Premier League.
In the summer of 2023, Iliman followed his heart. Despite serious interest from English clubs, he signed with Olympique de Marseille—the club he had supported since childhood. The transfer was accompanied by emotional footage: a video from 2010 circulated on social media showing a 10-year-old Iliman freestyling at Marseille's airport and dreaming of one day wearing the team's jersey.
In the summer of 2024, when Everton announced the signing of Iliman Ndiaye from Olympique de Marseille, the Merseyside club was undergoing a period of renewal. Sean Dyche’s team was in desperate need of a player capable of injecting creativity into the attack, deciding matches through individual brilliance, and disrupting the opposition's defence. Ndiaye stepped into this role perfectly.
Initial impressions and first steps
In Dyche's playing philosophy, attacking players bear a huge workload—they are the first line of defence, initiating the press against the opposition. Ndiaye quickly proved that he not only enjoys playing with the ball but is also willing to give his all when off the ball. Playing as a left winger, he would regularly drop back into his own penalty area to assist the full-back and aggressively challenge opponents to win back possession. It was precisely this fearless and selfless attitude that earned him Daish's complete trust.
In the attacking phase, Ndiaye was granted complete freedom of movement. Everton frequently employed long balls aimed at their tall forwards—Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Beto. This is precisely where Ndiaye’s magic came into play: he read the game impeccably, pounced on second balls won by the strikers, and created dangerous opportunities in the tightest of spaces. Cutting inside from the left flank, he could either take a shot at goal or create space for his teammates.
Ultimately, Ndiaye became the bridge that added beauty and an element of surprise to Everton’s rugged, physical style of play. He demonstrated that, in the modern Premier League, tactical discipline and the freedom of street football are not mutually exclusive; rather, with the right approach, they perfectly complement one another.
The Manchester Rise: The Etihad's New Magician
Following the end of the Pep Guardiola era at City, the team was in search of a new tactical identity. The new coaching staff saw in Ndiaye the transformative force the team's attack had been missing: unpredictable, raw street instincts, explosive pace, and fearlessness in tight spaces. At a time when modern football is becoming increasingly academic and formulaic, Ndiaye’s ability to improvise breathed a completely new spirit and sense of inspiration into City’s game.
Ndiaye’s integration into the Manchester giant has demonstrated that true talent knows no bounds. He not only enriches the attacking flanks but also orchestrates play from deep, where his dribbling and vision add an entirely new dimension to the team.
From running against the waves on the hot sands of Tunisia to the glare of the Etihad’s floodlights, Iliman Ndiaye’s journey was one where every step shattered scepticism. He proved that when football runs through your soul, nothing can stop you—not missing out on an academy, not shifts in a sandwich shop, nor the muddy pitches of the seventh division. Today, when he touches the ball in a Manchester City shirt, it is about more than just goals and assists—it is a victory for street-style freedom over the rigid robotization of modern football.
Xinhua | Alamy
Written by Nini Giorgadze (06/10/2026)