Idrissa Gana Gueye Leaves Everton After Seven Seasons
Goodison Park has waved goodbye to one of its great modern constants. Everton have confirmed that Idrissa Gana Gueye will not sign a new contract and has left the club after what they described as “seven seasons of top-quality service.”
The midfielder’s deal expired at the end of June. Talks with the club hierarchy in recent weeks ended with a clear conclusion: at 36, Gueye will “pursue a new challenge elsewhere.” That next step is expected to be in the Saudi Pro League with Al Diriyah, where his relentless energy and experience will be the attraction.
This is not a quiet departure. Gueye leaves having made 236 appearances for Everton across two spells, the kind of number that tells its own story. He arrived first from Aston Villa in August 2016, instantly becoming the heartbeat of the midfield, and returned in August 2022 after three years at Paris Saint-Germain, when the club again turned to a familiar, trusted presence.
Manager's Praise
Everton manager David Moyes underlined exactly what the club feels it is losing. He hailed Gueye’s “dedication, professionalism, and influence on the pitch throughout his two spells at the club,” highlighting a player whose impact stretched far beyond tackles and interceptions.
Moyes pointed to Gueye’s leadership around the dressing room as “crucial, particularly in our final season at Goodison.” In a campaign heavy with emotion and pressure, the Senegal international’s voice and standards carried weight. His “exceptional” commitment over many years, Moyes said, set the tone for others to follow.
The message from Everton was unambiguous: Gueye goes with gratitude and open doors. The club stressed he “will always be welcome” and extended their best wishes to him and his family as he steps into the final chapter of an impressive career.
From Villa to Paris, from his first tackle in royal blue to his last roar in front of the Gwladys Street, Gueye built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most reliable holding midfielders. Now he trades Merseyside for the Saudi Pro League, leaving Everton to find a new anchor while he chases one last challenge.
