BREAKING: Demarai Gray DID NOT Reject Manchester City to Extend with Everton — Here’s the Truth
A misleading headline recently made waves: “370 Everton star Demarai Gray rejects Manchester City to sign four‑year extension with Everton.” But the real story is quite different — and here’s what you really need to know.
1. Gray left Everton in September 2023 — he’s now in Saudi
- Demarai Gray joined Everton in July 2021 on a three‑year deal with a one‑year option, at a cost of around £1.7 million
- However, in September 2023, he transferred to Saudi Pro League side Al‑Ettifaq, signing a four‑year contract
- He has not been at Everton since 2023—no extensions, no fresh deals.
- 2. No Man City in the picture
- Gray began his professional career at Birmingham City, then moved to Leicester City (including the 2016 Premier League-winning season), followed by a short stint at Bayer Leverkusen in early 2021
- None of these moves involved Manchester City. Gray has never been linked with City in any credible news report.
- 3. What actually happened in 2023
- Conflict with manager Sean Dyche: Over the summer of 2023, Gray publicly criticised Everton’s then-manager Sean Dyche, accusing him of not respecting him as a person
- He refused to train and pushed for a move, claiming a deal was already done—though Everton insisted otherwise
- Everton rebuffed a £7–8 million offer from Al‑Ettifaq at first, citing transfer timing issues, but eventually agreed later in September for roughly that sum
- Gray completed a four‑year move to Al‑Ettifaq in September 2023
- 4. Current status & performance
- As of the end of May 2025, Gray has made 47 appearances and scored 4 goals for Al‑Ettifaq across two seasons .
- Internationally, he switched allegiance from England to play for Jamaica, earning 25 caps and 7 goals by mid‑June 2025 .5
- 5. Why the fake headline may’ve appeared
- Some mix‑ups may stem from confusing Gray’s 2021 contract at Everton (which included a one‑year option) with a nonexistent “four‑year extension” .
- Others might misread the timeline, forgetting Gray left Everton over 18 months ago.
- Finally, no credible source has ever connected him to Manchester City.📌
- Fact Check at a Glance
| Claim | Reality |
|---|---|
| Gray rejected City to stay at Everton | False – never linked to City. |
| Four‑year extension at Everton | False – left Everton in Sept 2023. |
| Gray still at Everton | False – now plays for Al‑Ettifaq.
|
6. Where Gray stands now
- Gray continues his career in the Saudi Pro League, running through his four‑year deal signed in September 2023
- He’s also been a regular figure for the Jamaica national team, notably featuring in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
- bottom line:
- Demarai Gray is not signing anything with Everton.
- ⚽ Manchester City had no involvement or failed approach.
- 🔄 He’s already on a long-term deal in Saudi—fully detached from Everton’s current squad.
If you’ve seen a headline claiming otherwise, it’s outdated or misinformed. Do you want me to search today’s news or transfer rumors to see if Gray or Everton is making the rounds again?
