Demarai Gray passes medical in London to exit Everton permanently, £90,000-a-week deal agreed

Everton winger Demarai Gray has completed his medical with Al-Ettifaq and is expected to finalise his move to the Saudi Arabian club in the next 48 hours, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

The Arabic news source reported on its online edition on Sunday [3 August] that Gray underwent the medical in London.

Gray will sign a three-or-four-year contract with Al-Ettifaq on a reputed salary of around $6million (£4.8m) a year, which is also the same amount Everton will receive for the transfer.

Finally

Everton attempted to offload Gray this summer, but no deal was completed before the European clubs’ transfer window closed on Friday [1 September].

However, a shift to Saudi Arabia or Turkey remained an option, and a deal now appears to be in the works for early next week.

Gray was previously connected with another Saudi Pro League club, Al-Shabab, so the transfer is not entirely unexpected.

The transfer fee may not be the most expensive, but it assures Gray’s wages are no longer owed to Everton, allowing the club to move on.

Gray had a great debut season at Goodison Park after coming from Leicester City in July 2021, scoring five Premier League goals and assisting four more, but he only contributed to five goals last season.

With this departure, Everton’s transfer business appears to be over for the year.

Sean Dyche will now have to work with what he has in order to retain Everton in the Premier League.

In other Everton news, Ian Wright was taken aback by a player during the Toffees’ 0-0 draw with Sheffield United.