Burnley and Watford Exclusive: Striker agrees £100,000-a-week deal
Former burnley star Andre Gray has signed a one-year deal with Al Riyadh worth £100,000-a-week, sources have told Football Insider.
The Saudi Pro League side announced they had completed a last-gasp deal for the 32-year-old before the Saudi window closed on Thursday (7 September).
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It is believed that Gray rejected interest from a number of clubs, including other Saudi sides as well as those in the UAE, before signing a deal with Al Riyadh worth £2.5million-a-year net of tax.
He had been a free agent after terminating his contract at Aris FC by mutual consent last week.
Gray, 32, was the leading goalscorer for the Greek side last season, but he has now departed after they were knocked out of Europa Conference qualifying.
Gray spent the majority of his career in England and featured in the Premier League for both Burnley and Watford between 2015 and 2022.
He helped the Clarets to top-flight promotion in the 2015/16 season and spent one campaign with the Lancashire side in the Premier League before signing for Watford for a club-record £18.5million fee in 2017.
Gray spent five years at Vicarage Road, scoring 21 times in 125 appearances across all competitions.
After falling out of favour with the Hornets during the later years of his five-year deal, Gray spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Championship side QPR before leaving on a free transfer to join Aris FC in Greece.
Gray is now close to becoming the latest player to join the Saudi Pro League following their campaign this summer to strengthen their league competition with a huge investment in new signings.
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Burnley Women go top of FAWNL Northern Premier Division
FA Women’s National League results on Thursday included a 3-0 win for Burnley which put them top of the Northern Premier Division.
NORTHERN PREMIER DIVISION
AFC Fylde 0-3 Burnley (Att: 90)
Halifax 1-0 Huddersfield Town (Att: 280)
Burnley knocked Wolves off the top of the table on goal-difference, with a 3-0 victory at Fylde. Second-half sub Aimee Kelly bagged a brace to add to Leah Embley’s opener. Halifax’s Becky Flaherty saved a 69th-minute penalty, before Darcie Greene grabbed a stoppage-time winner that moved them up to fifth spot.
SOUTHERN PREMIER DIVISION
Cheltenham Town 2-2 Cardiff City LFC (Att: 128)
Cardiff City Ladies claimed their first point but had come from behind to lead at Cheltenham. Emily Allen struck first for Town, Cori Williams’ volley and a Chloe Lloyd effort from the edge of the box had the Welsh side ahead at the break, only for Phoebie Poole to level seven minutes after the interval.
DIVISION 1 MIDLANDS
Leek Town 1-0 Sheffield FC (Att: 43)
Northampton Town 2-2 Solihull Moors (Att: 189)
Ona Ndefo gave Northampton the lead and although Becky Knight and Marsha Malik scored to turn the game in Solihull’s favour, Alex Dicks netted a later leveller for the Cobblers. Leek Town edged Sheffield FC with a 57th-minute goal by Katie Maya
DIVISION 1 NORTH
Hull City 3-0 Doncaster Rovers Belles (Att: 192)
Norton & Stockton Ancients 1-3 Chester le Street Town (Att: 122)
Hope Knight was at the double as Hull defeated Doncaster to sit just-goal-difference behind leaders Barnsley. Chester le Street’s first points were gained at Norton, where Jenny Ashton was twice on target.
DIVISION 1 SOUTH EAST
Chesham United P-P Actonians (now 21 Sept)
London Seaward 0-3 Queens Park Rangers
QPR rose to fourth place with a second win from three games, sealed with a second-half double.
DIVISION 1 SOUTH WEST
Abingdon United 2-0 Maidenhead United
Keynsham Town 0-0 Swindon Town (Att: 110)
Abingdon United climbed to fifth in their FAWNL debut campaign, Amy Chivers and Lia Francis finding the net against Maidenhead. Swindon stayed ahead of Keynsham on goals scored, following the pair’s goalless draw.
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