Everton winger Demarai Gray has left the Toffees to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, signing a four-year contract.
A Premier League winner with Leicester City back in 2016, Gray had yet to make an appearance for Everton this season amid a falling-out between him and manager Sean Dyche, something the Jamaican international had made public through social media.
“Everton fans have always been great with me but it’s so difficult to play for someone who don’t show you respect as a person,” Gray wrote on Instagram last Sunday morning following their 2-2 draw away to Sheffield United, referring to Dyche.
Dyche responded to those comments on evertontv: “Demarai made it clear that he felt he was getting a move and he told us a move was done, which was interesting to hear from a player. We reminded him of the truth of the fact that no moves are done without this club’s say so. That’s the truth of it.”
Despite interest from clubs such as Crystal Palace and Fulham, Gray failed to seal a move away from the club before the transfer deadline, but with the Saudi Arabian transfer window still open, Al-Ettifaq have since been able to secure a deal with Everton for the signing of the 27-year-old.
Gray signed for Everton from German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in summer 2021 and made 75 appearances for the Toffees in all competitions, scoring 12 goals. He played under the command of three permanent managers in Rafael Benitez, Frank Lampard and most recently Dyche plus a short spell under Duncan Ferguson, who served as caretaker boss following the sacking of Benitez in January 2022.
He will link up with an Al-Ettifaq side managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and join a squad which is captained by another former Premier League player in Jordan Henderson.
