Demarai Gray talks with Everton emerge as transfer now agreed – David Ornstein
Everton winger Demarai Gray has completed medical tests ahead of a move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, although formal paperwork has not yet been signed, according to David Ornstein.
The Athletic journalist shared via their transfer blog that there had been several internal discussions between Gray and Everton leading up to the decision made on Tuesday [5 September] to let the winger leave.
It is also reported that Al-Ettifaq boss Steven Gerrard played a significant role in driving the move to bring Gray to Saudi Arabia after a public war of words between him and Sean Dyche.
Time to move on
There has been plenty of drama around Gray’s exit which has dragged on throughout the summer. A proposed move to Premier League sides Fulham or Crystal Palace never materialised, then reports claimed he had turned down a move to Saudi Arabia, before untimely ending up going anyway.
He hadn’t taken part in a full training session since returning from international duty with Jamaica where he featured in the Gold Cup, and had no intention of playing for the Toffees in the upcoming season despite Dyche’s initial comments suggesting he would be staying.
Then came the very public war of words between Gray and Dyche, with the former posting a message to his Instagram claiming he was not respected as a person before Dyche responded to explain the situation.
Ultimately, Gray’s exit looked inevitable despite the English transfer window having closed and leaving the Toffees unable to find a replacement, with no way back between the player and the club after a turbulent summer.
In other Everton news, the club have completed a new signing outside of the transfer window.