Manchester City supporters have reacted with a mixture of excitement, surprise and anticipation after the club reached an agreement in principle to sign Iliman Ndiaye from Everton.
The transfer has moved incredibly quickly. According to the latest reports, City have agreed a package worth £65 million for the 26-year-old forward, with the deal now being finalised and a medical expected on Tuesday morning.
For supporters following what has been an increasingly dramatic transfer deadline day, the news has provided a major boost.
The reaction to the City Xtra post was overwhelmingly positive. Some fans were simply celebrating the speed of the deal, while others immediately turned their attention to what could happen next.
And one name appeared repeatedly in the responses: Enzo Fernandez.
Manchester City fans did not see the Ndiaye deal coming
The first major theme from the supporters was surprise.
City’s interest in Ndiaye had been known, but the speed with which the club moved to an agreement caught many supporters off guard.
One fan summed up the feeling perfectly by writing: “This was way to fast”, accompanied by blue-heart emojis.
Another simply posted “Finally”, while several others celebrated with messages such as “Get in”, “GET INNNNNNNNNNN” and “Here we go.”
That reaction makes sense given the circumstances surrounding the transfer.
Only hours earlier, Manchester City had been heavily focused on Cody Gakpo. Liverpool had rejected City’s approach for the Netherlands international, with reports indicating that the Reds were reluctant to sell because they had limited time to find a replacement.
City therefore needed to move quickly.
They appear to have done exactly that.
‘BOMBA’ – fans love Hugo Viana’s quick response
Another clear trend was praise for Hugo Viana.
City supporters have spent much of the summer debating the club’s recruitment strategy. However, the reaction changed dramatically once the Ndiaye deal began moving.
One supporter simply wrote: “Well done HUGO VIANA.”
Another declared: “Bomba, Viana is moving mad.”
That post received 162 likes, making it one of the most prominent reactions in the discussion.
The excitement is understandable.
Manchester City had been searching for another attacking option after making significant changes to their forward line. Sky Sports reported that City wanted both a wide forward and a central midfielder before the transfer window closed.
Ndiaye fits the need for another versatile attacking player.
He can operate from wide positions and also contribute centrally, giving Enzo Maresca another option in the final third.
For supporters, the most encouraging part may therefore be the decisiveness of the move.
‘£65M not bad’ – supporters approve the transfer fee
The £65 million package also attracted attention.
One fan responded simply: “£65M not bad.”
That sentiment reflects a broader feeling among supporters that City have secured a player who can add variety to their attack without reaching the enormous figures that were being discussed around other targets.
City’s pursuit of Gakpo had reportedly involved an £80m bid, while other reports had suggested an even higher potential valuation.
Against that backdrop, a £65m package for Ndiaye has been received positively by many supporters.
There is also an important tactical consideration.
Ndiaye offers versatility rather than being restricted to one position. That could be particularly useful for Maresca during a long season involving the Premier League, Champions League and domestic competitions.
City’s supporters have already experienced concerns about attacking depth following several departures.
The arrival of Ndiaye could help ease those concerns.
‘More speed to the wings’ – fans see what Ndiaye can add
Perhaps the most interesting reaction came from supporters looking beyond the transfer headline.
One fan wrote:
“LETS GOOOO. More speed to the wings, im sure Ndiaye will make it. Welcome to CITY.”
That captures what many supporters appear to like about the signing.
City have traditionally relied heavily on technical quality and possession. Under Maresca, however, having players capable of attacking space quickly could become increasingly important.
Ndiaye can provide another attacking profile.
The Senegal international has experience in English football and has already demonstrated that he can handle the physical and tactical demands of the Premier League. Sky Sports reported that he had scored 17 goals in 74 appearances for Everton since joining from Marseille.
That Premier League experience is valuable.
Instead of bringing in a player who needs significant time to adapt to English football, City would be acquiring someone who already understands the competition.
‘Here we go’ – supporters are already looking ahead
The reaction also showed that some supporters are already treating the transfer as virtually complete.
Several fans posted “Here we go”, while others celebrated with messages such as “finally” and “Bombaaaaa.”
Technically, however, supporters will still have to wait for the final stages of the transfer.
The latest reporting indicates that the agreement is at the paperwork stage and that Ndiaye is expected to undergo his medical before the move can be completed.
That distinction matters.
An agreement in principle is not the same as an officially completed transfer. However, the mood among City supporters suggests that confidence is extremely high.
‘Enzo next’ – the fans already want another signing
The most revealing part of the reaction was how quickly supporters moved on to another target.
“Enzo next,” wrote one fan.
Another supporter posted:
“BANGGGGGG ENZO NEXT.”
This was not an isolated reaction.
The possibility of Manchester City signing Enzo Fernandez has clearly captured the imagination of supporters, particularly because City have been looking for reinforcements in midfield as well as attack.
Sky Sports reported that City had opened talks with Chelsea for Fernandez while pursuing a wide forward.
That means the Ndiaye agreement may not necessarily represent the end of City’s business.
Instead, supporters are hoping it is the beginning of an even more dramatic finish to the transfer window.
The mood around Manchester City has changed quickly
What stands out from the reactions is how dramatically the mood has shifted.
Manchester City fans had spent much of the recent transfer discussion worrying about whether the club would be able to strengthen sufficiently.
There had been frustration surrounding the Gakpo situation. Liverpool’s decision to keep the forward because of their difficulty finding a replacement effectively closed that particular route.
Yet City have responded almost immediately.
That is why the word “fast” appeared in the reactions.
The club did not appear to spend days publicly chasing one alternative after another. Instead, attention quickly switched to Ndiaye and negotiations progressed rapidly.
For supporters, that represents an encouraging sign about the new recruitment structure.
Manchester City fans are already excited about Ndiaye
Ultimately, the reaction to the Iliman Ndiaye transfer has been overwhelmingly positive.
There is excitement about his versatility, approval of the reported £65m package and considerable praise for the speed of the negotiations.
The arrival of a Premier League-proven forward could also give Maresca another important option as City attempt to compete on multiple fronts.
The medical still needs to be completed before the transfer becomes official. But supporters are already looking beyond that stage.
They want to see Ndiaye in a Manchester City shirt.
And judging by the reactions to the breaking news, they also want Hugo Viana to keep working.
“Enzo next” was the message from several supporters.
After the speed of the Ndiaye agreement, City fans will now be watching closely to see whether another major deal can follow before the transfer window closes.
