Demarai Gray has joined Bayer Leverkusen from Leicester City.
Demarai Gray has joined Bayer Leverkusen from Leicester City. - © Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Demarai Gray has joined Bayer Leverkusen from Leicester City. - © Alex Pantling/Getty Images
bundesliga

Demarai Gray joins Bayer Leverkusen from Leicester City

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

Bayer Leverkusen have completed the signing of Demarai Gray from Leicester City, the former England U21 winger signing an 18-month deal at the BayArena.

Advertisement

A Birmingham City youth academy graduate, Gray was part of the Leicester squad that shocked English football to win the Premier League title in 2016, playing 12 games in that campaign.

The 24-year-old has since racked up 13 goals and 17 assists in 169 games across all competitions for the Foxes and will now compete with Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby for a place out wide in Peter Bosz's preferred three-man attack.

"Demarai Gray is a real bag of tricks, he’s a quick and direct winger who adds another string to our bow in attack," said Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes. "He knows how to exploit his pace in one-on-one situations and has an eye for his teammates. Thanks to his Premier League experience, he can hit the ground running with us."

Gray, who boasts 38 youth international caps with England, has been called up to the Three Lions' full squad, most recently in 2018, but is as yet uncapped at senior level.

"It’s a fantastic opportunity to gain new experiences abroad with a very exciting club," he explained. "The Bundesliga was the first major league to restart after the coronavirus pandemic, and the whole world was watching.

"I really like German football, and Leverkusen’s attacking, aggressive and technical playing style suits me well. I can and want to develop and be successful here."

Gray becomes Leverkusen's third signing of the winter transfer window, following the arrivals of Tim Fosu-Mensah from Manchester United and Jeremie Frimpong from Celtic.