Gana Gueye departs Everton for a second time
Everton have confirmed earlier reports that Idrissa Gana Gueye has left the club this summer following the expiry of his latest contract.
The 36-year-old has enjoyed two spells with the Blues, first between 2016 and 2019 when he was signed from Aston Villa in a cut-price £7.1m deal before being sold to Paris Saint-Germain for £28m.
He then returned to Goodison Park in 2022 having spent three years in Ligue 1 and, once again, established himself as one of Everton's most important players.
He signed a one-year extension to his terms last year, with a club retaining an option to automatically extend his deal by a further 12 months if he made a pre-determined number of starts during 2025/26.
The Senegal international did not reach that milestone and he became a free agent as of 1st July. Rumours suggest that Gana is in negotiations with Al-Dirrayah in Saudi Arabia.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers24/07/2026 21:14:06
Good luck to him, a fine player for us during a difficult time.
At least this means more opportunities for Hackney and maybe even KDH in his more natural role.
24/07/2026 22:21:52
Arguably Gana has been our best outfield player in the last decade. He was badly missed in the closing weeks of last season. Here’s hoping his departure does not leave a gaping hole in the opening weeks of the new season.
24/07/2026 22:51:48
Good luck man. You represent all I believe Everton is. Hope you have a great future.
25/07/2026 10:55:29
Steve Walsh got Everton to activate Gyene buy out clause in 2016.He was a players in the mould of Walsh's other find Kante.
Gyene was consistently the highest stats for a Premier League defensive midfielder.The only possible weakness was the attempted long pass. but that could have the result of tactical failings in Everton build up play.
He will be difficult to replace, especially as Moyes stylw is so dependent on.
25/07/2026 15:19:52
Great and an essential player for us, for many seasons.
Right time to leave, for both parties.
25/07/2026 15:38:43
Gueye has certainly given his all for the club and put in some excellent performances over a very bleak few years. He must have an affinity to the club too - and I wonder if he may ever return in a coaching capacity.
In his prime, Gueye would have been an asset for any club. Hopefully we're now moving to a position where a player like this (a hunter / presser of the ball) is more of a tactical option - and the primary focus of the midfield is on keeping and using the ball well.
25/07/2026 20:46:13
Sorry to see him go. I hope that doesn’t mean his mate, Ndiaye, will be off too.
26/07/2026 01:06:32
Don’t blame him not accepting a renewal and you can bet your bottom dollar we tried. He probably doesn’t want another relegation on his CV so he’s left just in time.
26/07/2026 03:55:04
Harry 9
That's it mate,nice and positive
27/07/2026 03:37:56
They are both heading off for the desert Gerry (8). Ndiaye is off to Al Hilal and Gueye is off to Al-Diriyah.
At least Gueye will feel more at home with Saudi views on sex, same-sex, and gender.
27/07/2026 11:02:32
Gueye will thrive at Al-Diriyah under their Italian coach Immodium. They were leaking goals like a tap now it’s clean sheets all the time. Gary Lineker is a big fan.
27/07/2026 12:54:49
I think this was all settled prior to the world cup, especially since his wife was packing up the home. The clubs failure to trigger a one year extension by not allowing him to accumulate the appearances was obviously the obvious indication.
Strange too that since his departure there has not been a peep from him officially through the club or even unofficially through social media.
Both he and Ndiaye never really looked happy, or played well since returning from the African cup debacle, both (to me) going through the motions and now we here Ndiaye wants out too. Coincidence? Doesn't feel like it, feels like both unhappy with the club?
On their day both players could be exceptional, but I remember thinking the both were not playing with their heart in it.
It wasn't. Good luck to them both. Next.
27/07/2026 15:35:05
Christine (13) I thought they were both ok up to and including the Chelsea game in March. Gana made a brilliant interception in that game to lay on the second goal while Ndiaye finished brilliantly to wrap up a
3-0 win admittedly against supine opponents.
I would agree they both fell away after the subsequent three week break with Ndiaye looking especially worn down in the closing stages of the match at West Ham. That last minute defeat and the one preceding it in the derby drained the whole squad belief and energy.
27/07/2026 21:36:04
Christine#13
Interesting what you noticed.I felt after reaching 5th, it was apparently that Moyes was not going to push on for a European spot. Finishing in a similar position to the previous season said it all ambition wise.It was a collapse.
I would be surprised players where happy with that.Moyes since the start of the Summer does not appear to have been worrying too much.
28/07/2026 03:05:40
Absolutely love Gana. Unquestionably the best player we've had in that position in the Premier League era.
Pretty sure he liked his time here as well. One of those rare relationships where we liked him as much as we liked him.
I regret he didn't get a proper send off at the end of last season.
In his first stint he was so good. Everybody went on about Kante but Gana was just as good. He just played for a worse team.
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24/07/2026 19:04:43
Good luck Idrissa, thank you for everything.