Idrissa Gana Gueye exits Everton as Senegal midfielder ends second spell at club

Everton have parted company with Idrissa Gana Gueye, bringing the Senegal midfielder’s second spell at Goodison Park to an end after a total of 236 appearances for the club.

The 34-year-old, who has been capped 135 times by Senegal, rejoined Everton in 2022 from Paris Saint-Germain in a transfer worth €4m, returning to the club where he had previously established himself as a key figure in midfield.

Gueye first signed for Everton in 2016 and spent three seasons at Goodison Park before being sold to Paris Saint-Germain for €30m. During that initial spell on Merseyside, he became known as one of the Premier League’s most industrious ball-winners and a fan favourite among the Toffees support.

Second Goodison spell comes to a close

After what was regarded as a disappointing stint in Paris, where he struggled to consistently reach his Premier League levels, Gueye’s move back to Everton in 2022 was seen as an opportunity to revive his club career.

Since his return to Liverpool, he has again played an important role for the Toffees, re-establishing himself as a decisive presence in midfield and adding experience to the squad during a challenging period for the club.

Everton have now chosen to move on without the Senegal international, drawing a line under a long association with a player who served them across two separate spells and attracted significant interest when he first left for France.

From Paris to Merseyside and back again

Gueye’s transfer journey between Everton and Paris Saint-Germain underlines the contrasting chapters of his career. His €30m move to the French champions came on the back of three strong seasons in England, where his ball-winning and energy in midfield made him one of the standout defensive midfielders in the league.

In Paris, however, he did not fully replicate that influence, and his time in Ligue 1 ultimately fell short of expectations. That led to his €4m return to Goodison Park in 2022, a deal that was viewed as good value for Everton in both football and financial terms.

Across his two spells combined, Gueye amassed 236 matches for the Toffees, underlining the extent of his contribution to the club over several years.

The decision to part company closes a significant chapter in both Everton’s recent history and Gueye’s club career, with the Senegal international now set to look for a new destination after his latest departure from Merseyside.