Marcel Brands has struck in the transfer market for the third time this week. Everton’s technical director presented his latest addition in the person of Demarai Gray on Thursday. The attacker comes for about two million euros from Bayer Leverkusen, which took him over from Leicester City in the winter for almost the same amount. Gray has signed a three-year contract with Everton until mid-2024, with an option for a fourth year.
The move to Everton marks a return to the Premier League for Gray, having previously played for Leicester City between 2016 and 2021. Gray, who has since signed up for the Florida Cup in Orlando in the roster of Rafa Benitez, helped Leicester City to the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season. In addition, he played several international matches for English youth teams, from the Under-18 to Under-21. The winger started his career with Birmingham City, where he scored 8 goals in 73 games.
“I’m delighted to be back in the Premier League with such a big club,” Gray told his new employer’s website. “I can’t wait to start working with the team. When I spoke with the coach and Marcel Brands I had a very good feeling about the club and I think this is the right place to continue to develop myself. Everything is right what Benitez and Brands have told me, including the club’s ambitions and goals. The main goal should be to push back towards the top places and be competitive.”
Gray has failed to leave a lasting impression at Leverkusen in the past six months. During his debut match against VfB Stuttgart, he was still accurate, but after that the attacker mainly had to make do with substitutions. Gray is the third player this week to join Benítez’s squad. Previously, Brands managed to bring Andros Townsend and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to Goodison Park. Townsend was picked up on a free transfer from Crystal Palace, while Begovic was taken over from Bournemouth.
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