Everton believe they hold the leverage in any negotiation over Iliman Ndiaye, with the club having no desire to sell a key player who still has three years left on his contract, according to Joe Thomas.
The update builds on Fabrizio Romano’s report that Al Hilal have opened talks over a possible move, with the Saudi club wanting a second marquee attacking signing after completing a deal for Crysencio Summerville.
Everton’s position, as described, is clear: any business will happen on their terms, not Al Hilal’s.
That stance is reinforced by reporting elsewhere suggesting Everton are prepared to go further than simply holding firm.
TEAMtalk understands the club are ready to open talks over an improved long-term contract for Ndiaye, rather than treat this purely as a fee negotiation — a sign Everton see this as a retention opportunity as much as a transfer stand-off.
Ndiaye’s contract, signed when he joined from Marseille in 2024, runs until 2029, giving Moyes’s side little pressure to engage on Al Hilal’s timeline.
Ndiaye’s own camp is said to remain open to discussions, and his recent comments about wanting to play Champions League football haven’t gone unnoticed by suitors, with Man City and Tottenham also credited with monitoring the situation.
But contract length and Everton’s stated valuation of around £69m give the club real control over how this develops, whatever interest Al Hilal continue to show.
None of this rules out a departure if Al Hilal come back with a substantial enough offer. It does suggest Everton aren’t treating Saudi interest as a reason to sell at the first given opportunity.
Our Everton transfer tracker will be updated to reflect Everton’s stance. Romano’s original report can be found on X.
