From Hyde to the Premier League - Everton's Ndiaye

Iliman Ndiaye joined Everton on 3 July from Marseille for around £15m

Everton's summer signing Iliman Ndiaye says he "always knew" he would be a Premier League player one day - even during a short spell in non-league football.

Ndiaye, 24, joined the Toffees this summer for around £15m after a "tough" season in France with Marseille, where he managed only three goals.

He returns to England, where he played a key role in helping Sheffield United achieve promotion from the Championship in 2022-23 - as well as featuring nine times in the Northern Premier League for Hyde United four years ago while on loan from the Blades.

“I enjoyed my spell at Hyde," Ndiaye told BBC Sport. "I went on loan there but it got cut short because of Covid.

"It was my first time playing [senior] men's football and I learned a lot. You go from playing with young players to some adults who had a long career in the National League.

"The loan at Hyde wasn't something to bring me down, it was an opportunity to carry on playing football. I love playing football - it was one step on my way to the top.

"It made me work harder because I never thought one day I would be at Hyde United. I thought after Sheffield United, I would continue going higher but I always knew I would be in the Premier League one day."

'Amazing' watching Chelsea's Hazard and Drogba

Ndiaye scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists to help Sheffield United to promotion in 2022-23

Everton have struggled at the wrong end of the table for the past three seasons, finishing 15th last term after two successive relegation escapes before that.

But Ndiaye was keen to join, saying the club's long-standing interest in him was a "big factor" in moving to Merseyside.

Having sought advice from Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye, his Senegal compatriot, the forward said moving to Goodison was an "easy decision".

Ndiaye said: "Personally for me, it is the best league in the world. Everyone dreams of being in the Premier League. It is not easy to get to it. I know a lot of players whose aim was to play there but it hasn't happened yet.

“I watch football, I live football, I eat football – when I was young, I used to be a fan of Chelsea. I watched Eden Hazard and Didier Drogba and it was amazing watching them play."

Everton host Brighton on Saturday as they embark on their final season at Goodison Park before moving to their new home on Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of 2025-26.

Ndiaye said he was motivated by the words of his daughter, saying her dad could become the last player to score a goal at Goodison or the first to net at the new venue.

Speaking to BBC Sport from inside Goodison, he added: “It will be really special. I wanted to come here before it leaves this place. Being part of the history is a big thing.

"I am really excited to score a lot of goals and I am a player that likes to get fans out of their seats.

“We all know the aim and personally I think we can end higher than last season. I see some really good things about the squad such as togetherness, which is really important."