Steven Gerrard completes Everton raid by signing player who launched attack on Sean Dyche | OneFootball

Demarai Gray joins Al Ettifaq from Everton. Credit - Al Ettifaq FC Twitter.

Everton have officially announced the departure of winger Demarai Gray, who has signed a four-year deal with Saudi club Al Ettifaq.

Al Ettifaq boss Steven Gerrard is believed to have played a key role in convincing the Jamaica international to make the switch.

Gray follows Jordan Henderson to the club, who left Everton’s bitter rivals Liverpool earlier in the summer for a fee of £12m.

Other high-profile players at the club include another ex-Reds midfielder – Georginio Wijnaldum – and former Everton transfer target Moussa Dembele.

Everton are believed to have received a fee in the region of $10m (£8m) for Gray. This represents a good profit on the £1.7m they paid for him in 2021.

Gray has been expected to leave Everton for some time, but after the English transfer window closed last Friday there have been suggestions that he could stay until January.

This triggered an angry response from the winger, who said on Instagram: “It’s so difficult to play or someone who doesn’t show you respect as a person.”

The dig at Sean Dyche did not go down well. The manager responded to Gray’s criticism in a recent interview.

“Demarai Gray made it clear that he felt he was getting a move and that a move was done, which was interesting to hear from a player,” said Dyche.

“We reminded him of the truth that no move is done without this club’s say-so”.

Gray was utilised often by Frank Lampard but saw his minutes diminish after Dyche took charge of Everton in January.

The 27-year-old made 13 Premier League appearances under the former Burnley boss last season but did not feature for the Toffees this term.

The arrivals of Jack Harrison and Arnaut Danjuma saw Gray fall further down the pecking order, while Dwight McNeil has become a stalwart in Dyche’s starting XI when injury-free.

Gray has finally secured a move away from Goodison Park by sealing a move to Al Ettifaq. It will be interesting to see if he can reignite his career in the Gulf this season.