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Demarai Gray takes the Saudi plunge

Published:Friday | September 8, 2023 | 12:02 PMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
Reggae Boy Demarai Gray celebrates scoring one of his two goals during a man-of-the-match Gold Cup performance against Trinidad and Tobago at City Park in the United States.
Courtesy of @goldcup
Reggae Boy Demarai Gray celebrates scoring one of his two goals during a man-of-the-match Gold Cup performance against Trinidad and Tobago at City Park in the United States.

Jamaican International Demarai Gray has inked a four-year deal with Saudi Arabia club Al-Ettifaq.

The deal, which is said to be worth €10 million, sees the winger departing English Premier League outfit Everton having scored nine goals in 67 appearances after joining the Mersey side club in 2021 following stints at Bayer Leverkusen, Leicester City and Birmingham City.

The 27-year-old Gray will join the Steven Gerrard-coached team which stands fifth in the Saudi Pro League where he joins the likes of Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Mousa Dembele.

According to Gray, the move was made after the realisation that he would not play as much at Everton as he would like this season following a fairly public spat with his coach Sean Dyche.

"There has been a lot of speculation about my situation all summer. I was ready to play as much football as possible this season but it felt like this was not going to happen," said Gray.

The spat between coach and player happened after a move to Fullham failed to materialise with Dyche saying Gray didn't want to train and showed he didn't want to be at Everton.

"It's so difficult to play for someone who don't show you respect as a person."

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