Bernard leaves Everton as new club announce signing

Jason Soutar
Bernard
Bernard

Everton winger Bernard has completed a move to Sharjah FC on a two-year deal, the United Arab Emirates club have confirmed.

The Brazilian spent three years at Goodison Park after joining the Blues from Shakhtar Donetsk on a free transfer.

He didn’t enjoy the best of times in England, only scoring eight goals in 84 appearances for the Merseyside club.

Never, ever break your transfer record for a Liverpool player

The 28-year-old amassed 12 Premier League appearances last season, only completing the full 90 minutes of a match on one occasion.

His departure from the club seemed inevitable in recent weeks, and despite no official announcement from Everton yet, has been confirmed by Sharjah.

Their Twitter account wrote: “We welcome the joining of the Brazilian international ‘Bernard’ (28 years old) to the Castle of Kings, coming from the English club Everton, with a contract that extends for two seasons.”

Sharjah, founded in 1966, finished fourth in the UAE Pro League last term, qualifying for the Asian Champions League for next season.

Elsewhere, Everton have announced the signings of Demarai Gray from Bayer Leverkusen and Andros Towsend from Crystal Palace after his contract expired at the London club.

This means that they have replacements sorted after Bernard’s departure, only spending £1.6million for both players combined in the process.

Gray, now in Orlando with the rest of the squad for the Florida Cup, told Everton’s website: “I’m delighted to be back in the Premier League at such a big club and I’m excited to play with the team and get to work.”

He added: “Speaking to the manager and (director of football) Marcel Brands, I had a really good feel for the club and I feel this is a place where I can continue to develop.

“The manager, with his ambition and what he has won in the past, is important and we’ll look to push forward and compete with the top clubs. I think a club of this magnitude has all the potential to be right up there.

“Collectively with what Marcel and the manager have said to me, everything fits, including the club’s ambitions and goals. Everton are a very big club and the main objective is to be pushing and competing back up there in the table.

“I want to work hard on the training pitch and work my hardest for the club on the pitch.”

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