Iliman Ndiaye will not be heading to Al-Hilal this summer, according to his father Mouhamadou Abdoulaye Ndiaye, who has moved to quash transfer rumours linking the Everton forward with a move to Saudi Arabia.

Speaking publicly on the matter, the elder Ndiaye made clear that his son's ambitions lie firmly in Europe — and far beyond the allure of a lucrative Saudi deal.

Father speaks out

"Many people called me to tell me that Iliman was going to leave. But rest assured, he is not going anywhere," the father said, dismissing the speculation.

He revealed that Iliman contacted him directly to set the record straight. "He called me this morning. I even teased him with a few words in Arabic, and we laughed about it. He let me know that he had no intention of going to Saudi Arabia."

The financial rewards of a Saudi move were not lost on Ndiaye's father, but he insisted his son's priorities lie elsewhere. "He knows he can earn a lot of money there, but he also believes that his level may decline. He is not the type to prefer money over his career."

Ballon d'Or and World Cup on his mind

Mouhamadou Abdoulaye Ndiaye outlined the ambitions driving his son's decisions. "His goal is to win another Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal, win the World Cup, and one day become a Ballon d'Or winner. That's what motivates him today."

Those are no idle dreams — Iliman has been in fine form for both club and country. Since arriving at Everton from Marseille in 2024, he has made 64 appearances across all competitions, contributing 17 goals and three assists for the Toffees.

World Cup impact for Senegal

On the international stage, Ndiaye made his presence felt at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, playing three matches, scoring one goal, and providing two assists for Senegal. His contributions included a standout substitute appearance in a commanding 5-0 victory over Iraq — a result that underlined his growing importance to the Teranga Lions.

With his father's words offering firm reassurance to Everton supporters, Ndiaye appears set to continue his European journey — trophies, not transfer fees, firmly in his sights.