With the Saudi transfer window closing after those in Europe, there is still a chance that a number of Premier League players could depart and one of those is Demarai Gray. The Everton winger is currently embroiled in a very public spat with manager Sean Dyche and an exit may now suit everyone. Here’s the latest with the Demarai Gray Al-Ettifaq transfer.
The Saudi club clearly believe that the 27 year old would be a significant addition as they seek fresh blood in the final days of their transfer window. Gray has been an important player for Everton over the last two seasons, starting 27 Premier League games last term and scoring 4 goals. However his relationship with the club and particularly his manager appears to have hit rock bottom in recent days.
“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.
The Jamaican international had been strongly linked with a move to Fulham, but remained at Goodison Park after the conclusion of the English transfer window. Dyche has since responded to Gray’s social media outburst by claiming the player didn’t want to train and a parting of the ways now appears imminent.
Demarai Gray Al-Ettifaq transfer – Latest update
Demarai Gray to Al Ettifaq, here we go! Deal agreed for $10m fee on permanent transfer — it will be signed today 🇸🇦🤝🏻
Everton have approved the deal, Gray will sign four year contract until 2027 and he already completed medical tests.
Done, sealed. pic.twitter.com/wIMX4pb2GX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 6, 2023
The latest reports suggest this deal is effectively done with Demarai Gray set to move to Al-Ettifaq on a permanent transfer. The agreed fee is reportedly $10m, around £8m.
That would represent the highest transfer fee of Gray’s career to date. He left boyhood club Birmingham City in January 2016 for a reported £3.7m fee and subsequent moves to Bayer Leverkusen and Everton involved sums that were less than £2m.
The Toffees may see this as decent business as a result, with the player expected to sign a four year deal at Al-Ettifaq. He is already believed to have passed his medical with both clubs happy for the move to go through.
However it is too late for the Toffees to do any transfer business of their own, so they'll need to wait until January for a Gray replacement, unless they can find a free agent to bolster their squad.
Gerrard key in pushing for the transfer
Everton have agreed a deal for Demarai Gray to join Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq.
Steven Gerrard is understood to have played a significant role in driving the move.#EFC
More from @David_Ornstein https://t.co/oLNhbnFofk
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) September 6, 2023
The Everton winger is now set to link up with Steven Gerrard who is the manager of Al-Ettifaq. The Liverpool legend is believed to have played a key role in pushing for this transfer and will see Gray as a player who can be a significant addition to his team.
Al-Ettifaq have made quite a strong start to the Saudi Pro League season, taking 10 points from their opening 5 games. However they’ve not offered quite as much in the final third as some of the other Saudi clubs who have spent big on elite level attacking talent this summer.
Gray may not fall quite into that category but he will look forward to linking up with former Lyon striker Moussa Dembele in attack for his new side. Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum will also be teammates while the club have also been linked with a late move for Wolves’ Pablo Sarabia.
