Birmingham City old boy Demarai Gray ends Sean Dyche spat with Saudi transfer
The latest Birmingham City news from BirminghamLive as this former Blues winger exits Everton
Demarai Gray’s increasingly fractious relationship with Everton has come to an end after the winger completed a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.
The former Birmingham City player has signed a four-year deal in what is claimed to be an £8million transfer which brings the curtain down on an unhappy end to his time at Goodison Park.
The 27-year-old has not played this season and took to social media on Thursday to fire a shot across Dyche’s bows writing: "The truth is I gave my all to this club on and off the pitch. 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."
Unusually, Dyche responded in an interview with club media saying: “It’s an unfortunate one because I try to keep our business in-house. I think on this occasion, it’s right to reply.
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“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. We reminded him of the truth of the fact that no moves are done without this club’s say so.
“We look after these players; we look at all the different ways of looking after them: mental and well-being is big, the tactics and technical, the physical. When it comes to a time like that then you go, ‘Well, hang on a minute. You made it clear you didn’t want to train, you didn’t want to be here, and you also said there was a move that was a done deal’.
“We said it’s not a done deal because this club is the most important. This club will make decisions on the future of you as players and not the other way around. I think it’s right to let our fans know that’s the truth.”
That decision, which is clearly beneficial to both parties has now been made and Gray, who came through at Blues and played 78 games before moving to Leicester City, is now at his fourth club in four seasons following a brief spell with Bayer Leverkusen.
He only ever played against Blues once, for the Foxes in an FA Cup tie in 2020 when he was given a rousing reception by Blues fans.