Demarai Gray has joined Bayer Leverkusen from Leicester on a deal running to the summer of 2022, the German club have announced.
The 24-year-old winger had been with the Foxes since January 2016 and claimed a Premier League winners’ medal that season.
He made a total of 133 top-flight appearances for the club, with only one of those coming this season.
🚨 TRANSFER NEWS 🚨 Demarai Gray joins Bayer 04 from @LCFC ✍️! pic.twitter.com/ghumQF412O — Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 31, 2021
In quotes on Bayer Leverkusen’s official website, Gray described the move as a “great opportunity to gain new experience abroad at a very attractive club.”
He added: “The whole world was watching when the Bundesliga was the first big league to start playing again last year after the break caused by the coronavirus. I like German football.
“I’ve seen how Bayer 04 attack, are aggressive with great technique going forward and like to dictate the game through possession. I’ll fit in well. I can and I would like to develop here and be successful with this attractive team.”
🗣 Demarai Gray: “I saw Bayer 04 playing attacking football, going forward aggressively and dictating the game with possession. I’ll fit in well. I can and would like to develop myself further here and be successful with this attractive team.” — Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) January 31, 2021
Bayer sporting director Simon Rolfes said: “Demarai Gray is a tricky, very fast and penetrating winger who will give our attacking game an additional boost.
“He’s capable of winning out in fast one-on-ones and bringing his team-mates into play. Thanks to his experience in the Premier League, Demarai is a player who can help us straight away.”
Managing director Rudi Voller said: “Demarai is an unpredictable forward who will give us more options for the rest of the season.”
Following Leicester’s 3-1 defeat by Leeds manager Brendan Rodgers said: “He has obviously been a really good young talented player for the club but he is at that age now where he wants to be a regular player and unfortunately for him the form of Harvey Barnes has stopped that opportunity for him.
“He wants to go and play and we wish him all the best, he was a good boy here and worked really hard for me.”
