Iliman Ndiaye has explained why he could not resist the chance to join Manchester City, insisting that a move to the Champions League-chasing club was always going to be too good an opportunity to pass up.
The 26-year-old winger completed a £60m switch from Everton to City on transfer deadline day, ending a saga that had earlier appeared destined to take him to Tottenham Hotspur instead. Ndiaye wasted no time settling into his new surroundings, being named in City's starting line-up for their 1-0 Premier League win over Coventry at the weekend.
For much of the closing stages of the transfer window, it looked as though Ndiaye's future lay at Tottenham, who had struck an agreement with Everton to sign him. However, that deal collapsed after Spurs were unable to complete the sale of Richarlison, which would have freed up space and funds to finalise Ndiaye's arrival. With that route blocked, City swooped in to seal the transfer before the deadline passed.
Reflecting on the uncertainty surrounding his move, Ndiaye revealed he remained calm throughout the process, trusting that his path was already determined.
"There was no stress or panicking," Ndiaye said. "I always say whatever comes, comes. God decides your future - it is already written. I was just being patient and when City came through I was buzzing. It was always going to be City."
The forward made clear that the lure of Champions League football played a decisive role in his decision, even as he stopped short of dismissing Tottenham's own stature in the game.
"I wanted Champions League and playing at one of the best teams in the world," he said. "I am not saying Tottenham is not, but when Manchester City comes through you don't say no."
Ndiaye described the past week as a whirlwind, one that ended on a high note with victory in his City debut. "It has been a good week for me and topped off with a win," he added.
His departure brings to a close a two-year spell at Everton in which he emerged as one of the more eye-catching performers at Goodison Park, despite the club's struggles in the league table. Across his time on Merseyside, the Senegal international contributed 17 goals and built a strong rapport with supporters through his flair and directness on the flanks. Everton finished in the bottom half of the Premier League table in both of his seasons there, yet Ndiaye's individual performances stood out amid the club's broader difficulties.
The winger acknowledged the emotional weight of leaving a club where he had grown attached to both teammates and fans, but stressed that pursuing his ambitions required moving forward.
"When I was speaking with my wife, I was telling her that if I had to leave Everton it would be somewhere where I know I would be playing Champions League," Ndiaye said. "It was difficult to leave Everton. I created a great connection with the fans and the players there, but we have to move on sometimes and it's how football is."
With his move to the Etihad Stadium now complete, Ndiaye will be aiming to establish himself in a City squad chasing further silverware on multiple fronts, including a return to Champions League football - the very stage he says convinced him to make the leap.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.