Demarai Gray's Move to Al-Ettifaq: Everton Exit Amidst Controversy

 Demarai Gray's Move to Al-Ettifaq: Everton Exit Amidst Controversy

Demarai Gray's Move to Al-Ettifaq(Image-Getty)

Everton winger Demarai Gray has completed a move to the Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq following a highly publicized falling-out with his former Premier League team.

Although specific financial terms were not officially disclosed, British media outlets have reported that Steven Gerrard's side paid a transfer fee of eight million pounds ($9.98 million) for Gray, who has signed a four-year contract with Al-Ettifaq.

The rift between Gray and Everton came to the forefront when Everton manager Sean Dyche publicly criticized the player earlier this week. Dyche mentioned that Gray had shown reluctance to participate in training and had expressed a desire to leave the club. This public dispute escalated when Gray posted on Instagram, lamenting the challenges of playing for someone who did not demonstrate respect for him as a person.

Gray, who had not made any appearances for Everton in the current season, initially joined the Merseyside club from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021. During his tenure at Everton, he made 75 appearances and scored 12 goals.

In a statement released by Al-Ettifaq, Gray expressed his commitment to Everton during his time there, both on and off the pitch, regardless of the team's ups and downs. He expressed his readiness to play a significant role in the current season but felt that this opportunity was unlikely to materialize, prompting his decision to embark on the next phase of his career.

Demarai Gray, originally from Birmingham, previously represented England at the youth level. However, in a recent development, he switched his international allegiance to Jamaica earlier this year and has earned five caps for the Jamaican national team.

Under the management of former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, Al-Ettifaq has made notable signings, including Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum, who also previously played at Anfield, as well as Moussa Dembele from Olympique Lyonnais. This demonstrates the club's ambitions to strengthen its squad with experienced and skilled players.