Iliman Ndiaye
Active- Current or last club
- Manchester City
- Country (nationality)
- Senegal
- League or competition
- Premier League
- Position
- Winger
- How is the religion known?
- Reported by reputable media
- Last checked
- 7 October 2026
During his time at Sheffield United, his manager, Paul Heckingbottom, taken steps to ensure his club accommodated the religious beliefs of Iliman Ndiaye during Ramadan.
We list a player’s religion only where they have spoken about it publicly or it has been reliably reported, and we link our sources. If something is wrong, or a player’s views have changed, please tell us and we will review it.
Table of Contents
What religion is Iliman Ndiaye?
Iliman Ndiaye is a Senegalese professional footballer who is a devout, practicing Muslim. His former manager at Sheffield United, Paul Heckingbottom, spoke publicly to the media outlet The Star about modifying Ndiaye’s training schedules and team hotel routines to accommodate his dawn-to-dusk fasting periods during the holy month of Ramadan. Heckingbottom and his coaching staff created a custom individual preparation and nutrition plan for Ndiaye while he fasted during daylight hours.
Iliman Ndiaye plays as a winger for Premier League club Manchester City and the Senegal national team. He previously played for various European clubs, including Sheffield United, Marseille, and Everton. A Senegalese citizen, Ndiaye has also played for the Senegal national football team at several major tournaments, earning over 44 caps.
Early life and youth career
Iliman Ndiaye was born on 6 March 2000 in Rouen, France, to a Senegalese father and a French mother. He grew up as the only boy in his family alongside seven sisters. He began his youth career at Rouen Sapins in 2007 at age seven before moving to FC Rouen. In 2011, at age 11, he joined the Olympique de Marseille youth academy but was released after one year.
Following his release, his family relocated to Senegal, where Ndiaye trained with Dakar Sacré-Cœur from age 12 to 14. He then moved to London to join his father, playing for the youth side of Boreham Wood, featuring in Sunday League football for Rising Ballers, and representing Westminster Academy. He signed his first contract with Boreham Wood in November 2017, entering the English non-league system.
Club career
Sheffield United signed Ndiaye as a free agent in August 2019 following his departure from Boreham Wood. To gain senior match experience, he joined seventh-tier club Hyde United on loan in January 2020, making nine appearances. Upon his return, Ndiaye broke into the first team and became a key contributor to the club’s promotion campaign during the 2022–23 season, recording 15 goals and 13 assists across 52 appearances in all competitions.
On 1 August 2023, Marseille signed Ndiaye from Sheffield United for a reported fee of £20 million, returning him to his former youth academy. He made his debut in a 2–1 Ligue 1 victory over Reims. Ndiaye made 46 appearances for Marseille across all competitions during his single season in France, scoring 4 goals and adding 5 assists while helping the club reach the UEFA Europa League semi-finals.
Everton
On 3 July 2024, Premier League club Everton announced the signing of Ndiaye on a five-year contract. He made his Premier League debut on 17 August 2024, appearing as a substitute during a 0–0 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park. He made his full debut on 27 August 2024 in the EFL Cup second round against Doncaster Rovers, scoring the opening goal with a solo run and finish in a 3–0 victory.
Ndiaye scored his first Premier League goal for Everton on 22 September 2024, equalizing in a 1–1 away draw against Bournemouth. On 18 May 2025, he scored the final two goals at Goodison Park during a 2–0 victory over Southampton.
The following season, on 24 August 2025, Ndiaye scored Everton’s first-ever competitive goal at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium in a 2–0 win over Brighton. Across his two seasons with the club, he recorded 17 goals in 71 appearances across all competitions.
Manchester City
On 1 September 2026, Manchester City signed Ndiaye from Everton on a five-year contract for a fee of £60 million plus £5 million in add-ons. He made his debut for the club in a 1–0 home victory against Coventry City on 5 September. He also featured from the bench in a 2–0 UEFA Champions League win against FC Porto on September 8.
International career
Ndiaye made his senior international debut for Senegal on 4 June 2022 during an Africa Cup of Nations qualification victory against Benin. He was subsequently named to the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, appearing in three matches during the tournament. He went on to represent Senegal at consecutive editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, including the 2023 tournament in the Ivory Coast and the 2025 edition in Morocco, where Senegal finished as runners-up.
On 21 May 2026, manager Pape Thiaw selected Ndiaye as part of Senegal’s final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. During the tournament, on 26 June 2026, he appeared as a second-half substitute to score a goal and provide an assist in a 5–0 group-stage victory over Iraq. The win secured Senegal’s qualification for the knockout rounds as one of the best third-placed teams.
Personal life
Ndiaye is married to Ioana Ndiaye, and the couple share three children together.
He has been recognized off the pitch for humanitarian work, including being named a Champion for Peace ambassador in 2024, and has been nominated for the CAF Player of the Year award.
Sources
- Matchday (opens in a new tab) The Star, 2022
Sources are linked so you can check each claim yourself. Beliefs and public statements can change, so please check the source for the latest.
