Demarai Gray is set to join Al-Ettifaq as the Saudi Transfer window is still open, reported in the Football Transfer News. The Everton winger fell out of favors and is now have been sold for £10m bid.
Demarai Gray is on the brink of completing a £10m transfer from Everton to Al-Ettifaq, with the 27-year-old set to sign a four-year deal with the Saudi Pro League club where he would be joining with England international Jordan Henderson.
The relationship between Gray and Everton's manager Sean Dyche, deteriorated massively after the manager publicly criticised the player. The winger replied to those criticisms by saying "it was difficult to play for someone who doesn't show you respect as a person".
Dyche responded by expressing his unhappiness at the player, who has not played this season after being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia as well as Fulham and various other clubs, effectively going on strike after making clear he did not want to train as reported in the Football Transfer News.
Nothing had been prepared on European deadline day but, with the Saudi window still open, Everton have managed to reach an agreement with Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq side. The Premier League club, who have been working under immense financial restrictions in the transfer market, will make a profit on this deal having signed the winger for just £1.7m from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021.
Everton have not been at their best this season recording just one point out of 12 in the opening four games of the season. At least now, with Gray's departure Dyche would have one less problem to deal with.
"Demarai made it clear that he felt he was getting a move [away from Everton] and he told us a move was done, which was interesting to hear from a player," he said. "We reminded him of the truth of the fact that no moves are done without this club's say so."
