Idrissa Gana Gueye Leaves Everton After Seven Seasons
Idrissa Gana Gueye’s Everton chapter is over. After seven seasons, two spells, and 236 appearances, one of the club’s most reliable midfield figures has walked away from Goodison Park for the last time.
Everton confirmed that the 36-year-old will not be signing a new contract, his deal having expired at the end of June. Talks in recent weeks failed to produce an agreement, and the club has now formally drawn a line under his time on Merseyside, confirming he will “pursue a new challenge elsewhere.”
That challenge is expected to be in the Saudi Pro League with Al Diriyah, a move that would take the Senegal international into the final act of a career built on relentless energy and understated authority.
A tireless servant bows out
Gueye first arrived at Everton from Aston Villa in August 2016, quickly becoming the heartbeat of the midfield. He left for Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, but the pull of Goodison brought him back three years later, returning in August 2022 to help steady a club in constant turbulence.
Across those two spells, he offered the same things, week after week: tackles, interceptions, and a refusal to let standards drop. His game was never about headlines. It was about doing the work others didn’t want to do.
That reliability made him a quiet pillar in a period when Everton lurched from crisis to crisis. While managers changed and squads churned, Gueye’s presence in front of the back four remained one of the few constants.
Moyes pays tribute to leadership and commitment
Blues boss David Moyes underlined just how central Gueye had been, not only on the pitch but inside the dressing room.
“Everyone at Everton is hugely grateful for Gana’s dedication, professionalism, and influence on the pitch throughout his two spells at the club,” Moyes said, highlighting the midfielder’s impact over the years.
“His leadership qualities in and around the dressing room proved crucial, particularly in our final season at Goodison. His commitment to the club over many years was exceptional.
“Everyone connected to Everton thanks Gana – he will always be welcome at the club – and we wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”
Those words carry weight. Everton’s final season at Goodison Park demanded calm heads and strong voices. Gueye provided both, guiding younger players through pressure that could easily have crushed them.
End of an era, start of another
The decision not to renew his contract signals a clear shift. At 36, Gueye moves on; Everton look to reshape a midfield that has leaned on him for too long.
For the player, the path now seems set: a lucrative, late-career move to Al Diriyah in Saudi Arabia, where his experience and professionalism will be prized in a rapidly growing league.
For Everton, the question is sharper. With one of their most dependable servants gone, who takes responsibility in the middle of the pitch when the next storm hits?
