I spoke to Steven Gerrard and knew I had to leave Everton – I was totally out of the picture

Former Everton player Demarai Gray has opened up about his departure from the club last summer, revealing that he felt “totally out of the picture” and had no choice but to leave. Gray, who joined Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, said that a conversation with Steven Gerrard convinced him to make the move. He also revealed that he had interest from Fulham but ultimately chose to join Al-Ettifaq due to their ambition and commitment to improving their facilities.

Gray’s departure from Everton was a result of a breakdown in his relationship with the club, which played out on social media. He had posted on Instagram that he was finding it difficult to play for someone who didn’t show him respect as a person. At the time, Sean Dyche cited fitness issues as the reason for Gray’s absence from the team, but Gray has now revealed that he was “totally out of the picture” and had to leave for the sake of his career.

Gray reflected on his time at Everton, saying that he had experienced both highs and lows, including a strong start to his career under Rafa Benitez and two relegation battles. He also praised Al-Ettifaq for their dedication to improving their facilities and sticking to their ambitions.