In an era of robotic footballers who stick by the “systems” and play the most by-the-numbers football to maximize efficiency, the Premier League was screaming for a maverick who excited the crowds.
The fans’ screams were finally answered when Senegalese forward Iliman Ndiaye joined Everton in 2024 and took the Premier League by storm.
A throwback to the good ol’ days of Prem when every mid-table and lower mid-table team had a “Streets Won’t Forget” baller, Ndiaye is one of the most exciting players the league has seen since the days of Eden Hazard.
The close control, the trickery, and flicks and skills are on show, so you should make sure you keep your feet closed or he’ll nutmeg the ball between your legs.
Apparently, Abu Bakar Yasin, a BBC journalist, did not get the memo. He was interviewing Ndiaye for an article, and after the interview, the duo played a bit of 1-on-1 football.
Ndiaye produced an outrageous, never-before-seen nutmeg that is so unique that you’ll need a couple of replays to understand what really happened.
Ndiaye was jockeying the ball, and Yasin was applying pressure, trying to win the ball from the Everton forward.
With his back to Yasin, Ndiaye turns slightly, places the ball between his legs, jumps with the ball behind him, and without letting the ball come down, kicks the ball from behind and in-between Yasin’s legs and brings it to the front before controlling it and tapping it into the net.
The skill is so outrageous, you have to see it to believe it.
Did a shoot at work with @iliman_ndiaye about his journey from @RisingBallers_ to Everton and I did a cheeky write up as well! https://t.co/USnjOLRkTF pic.twitter.com/w3AEXrQZ8J
— Abu (@Abuy2j) November 12, 2025
Ndiaye, who had to toil hard after facing one rejection after another, had to go all the way down to the fifth tier of English football for a club (Boreham Wood) to finally give him a chance.
He landed a trial at Sheffield United in 2017, but to stay fit before he could start. This is when he joined Rising Ballers.
Rising Ballers is a league where you play five-a-side games and showcase your skills on the ball, as opposed to the heavy reliance on athleticism you see in the league games.
After years of toiling hard, Ndiaye brought that five-a-side freestyle football of his to the Premier League when he signed for Everton. Not only Everton fans, but fans from other clubs as well fell in love with him.
He is one of the most fun footballers to watch, as you know, every game he’ll give you something memorable.
Ndiaye currently holds the record for most dribbles in a single game (9) as he terrorized Liverpool earlier this season.
He also gave the fans an early Goal of the Season contender in a strike that was reminiscent of prime Eden Hazard when Everton played against Sunderland earlier this month.
After winning the ball on the right wing, he flashed past the oncoming midfielder, evades challenges from 3 defenders, showcasing his impressive display of skill and speed, before caressing the ball into the net with a left-footed curler.
🇸🇳🤩 Iliman Ndiaye (25) vs Sunderland. Quality. 🪄 pic.twitter.com/uW8IJ8UC7i
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) November 6, 2025
He himself states that he plays this way to get fans off their feet.
“The way I play football gets people off their seats.”
Ndiaye feels that his time at Rising Ballers played a key role in him becoming a professional after he suffered so much rejection.
According to statistics, only 180 out of the 1.5 million youngsters plying their trade in English youth football will ever play in the Premier League.
Despite the odds stacked heavily against him, Ndiaye made it work, and we thank him for it.
So which player in the Premier League excites you the most right now? Let us know in the comments section.
