Jack Grealish and Antoine Semenyo react to Iliman Ndiaye’s 'massive' Everton message'
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(Credit: Imago/Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)
Jonathan Burnett
Mon 25 August 2025 12:26, UK
Iliman Ndiaye repeated his heroics from last season to once again etch his name into the Everton history books against Brighton.
Everton made an emotional goodbye to Goodison Park in their penultimate match of last season against Southampton, beating Saints 2-0 as the Grand Old Lady closed its doors on the Toffees’ men’s team.
Ndiaye was at the double that day with two first-half strikes to become Everton’s final Premier League goalscorer at Goodison, capping off a strong debut campaign which featured 11 goals in all competitions.
Everton’s move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium is expected to have a transformational effect for new owner Dan Friedkin and their PSR position, and David Moyes‘ side got their new era off to the perfect start on Sunday.
Grealish made his full Everton debut against Brighton (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)
Everton’s first competitive match at their brand-new waterfront home ended just as their Goodison Park farewell did, with a 2-0 victory over a south-coast side as Ndiaye took centre stage against Brighton.
Fans were quick to praise Jack Grealish after he set up both goals on his full Toffees debut, but the recipient of that first assist was none other than Ndiaye as he scored the opener in the 23rd minute.
Ndiaye’s far-post tap-in from Grealish‘s square ball took an already-vibrant atmosphere up a notch, and the Manchester City loanee was involved again to see up James Garner‘s clincher in the second half.
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The Senegal international posted on Instagram at full-time on Sunday to celebrate, and said: “Few words to describe how proud I was to score the very first goal in our new home and to write another great chapter in the club’s history.
“Well done to the team for starting this journey in the best possible way, and massive thanks to the fans for the support.
Up the Toffees!”
Grealish responded to Ndiaye’s post with a pair of ‘applause’ and blue ‘love heart’ emojis, while Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo also commented to say: “My GOAT!”
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Football Insider Verdict
After a sluggish start to the new campaign with a disjointed performance in defeat to Leeds United, the Toffees’ new-look frontline finally clicked against Brighton with Grealish and Thierno Barry brought in.
Like Grealish, Barry was involved in both goals after displacing Beto in the starting XI, and Moyes looks set to finalise this season’s first-choice front four with the signing of Tyler Dibling from Southampton.
Dibling’s move to Everton is in its final stages after the Blues struck a £42m agreement for the 19-year-old, and as he prepares to Grealish and Barry alongside Ndiaye in at the front of Moyes’ 4-2-3-1, it’s still clear who the Toffees’ talisman is.
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