Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye has completed one of the most remarkable rises in English football, moving from non-league football and earning just £100 a week to becoming a £65 million Manchester City player.
Ndiaye joined Hyde United on loan from Sheffield United in January 2020, at the age of 19. The seventh-tier club provided him with an opportunity to gain senior football experience, but his circumstances at the time were far removed from the luxury associated with top-level football today.
The young attacker was living in Sheffield, did not drive and depended on teammates for lifts to the train station before travelling to Greater Manchester for training.
During the winter months, he would sometimes arrive at Hyde’s training ground while it was still pitch dark.
Despite already training with Sheffield United earlier in the day, Ndiaye regularly stayed behind at Hyde, often continuing until the floodlights were switched off.
He made nine appearances for Hyde and scored once, but his performances were enough to convince manager David McGurk that the youngster possessed unusual talent.
McGurk reportedly believed Ndiaye’s technical ability was far beyond what was normally seen at non-league level.
Ndiaye’s journey had started even earlier. After developing his football skills in Senegal, he moved through the English non-league system, including spells with Boreham Wood and Sunday League side Rising Ballers, before earning his opportunity at Sheffield United.
His progress at Sheffield United eventually led to a breakthrough in professional football and a move to Marseille. He later joined Everton, where his performances in the Premier League attracted interest from several major clubs.
That interest culminated in Manchester City signing him from Everton in September 2026 for £60 million, with a further £5 million available in add-ons. Ndiaye has signed a five-year contract with the Premier League giants.
The move represents a stunning transformation for a player who, just six years ago, was travelling by train to seventh-tier training sessions and earning £100 a week.
