Soccer
Idrissa Gueye has completed a free transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al-Diriyah following his departure from Everton.
Al-Diriyah were promoted to the Saudi Pro League at the end of last season, and Gueye has joined Chancel Mbemba as a high-profile signing for them this summer.
The 36-year-old left Everton last month, with the Toffees having failed to come to terms with Gueye on a fresh contract.
Gueye was a key player for Everton across two spells with the Premier League club, spanning seven years.
He initially joined them from Aston Villa in 2016, making 108 appearances across three seasons, before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.
The Senegal international, who featured at the World Cup, played 111 times for PSG, but then returned to Everton in 2022.
Gueye made 128 appearances in his second stint with the Toffees, with only three other Everton players featuring more times across the past four seasons. He led Everton for tackles attempted (364), tackles won (214) and ranked second for interceptions (168).
In the 2024-25 season, Gueye ranked top in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles attempted (133) and tackles won (80).
Al-Diriyah are also reportedly in talks to sign Malcom from Al-Hilal.
The Brazilian has registered 57 goal involvements in the Saudi Pro League and, since he joined Al-Hilal in 2023, only Riyad Mahrez (266) has created more chances in the competition than Malcom (219).
Should that transfer go through, it may well open the door for Al-Hilal to move for Gueye’s former Everton club-mate Iliman Ndiaye.
Everton, who are in talks to sign Brennan Johnson from Crystal Palace in exchange for Dwight McNeil, reportedly value Ndiaye at £70m.
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