Demarai Gray has spoken of his excitement after deciding to represent Jamaica.
The 26-year-old represented England at youth levels and was selected for the senior side by Gareth Southgate in 2018, but did not make an appearance. The Everton winger has now switched allegiance to Jamaica, qualifying through his maternal grandparents.
The winger, who will play with Premier League stars including Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey and West Ham’s Michail Antonio, said he cannot wait to prove himself on the international stage.
Gray, who has been included in the Jamaica squad for this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, said: “While I am proud of what I’ve achieved in my football career to date, there is still so much I want to do over the years to come. It’s time for a fresh challenge and, in my eyes, there’s nothing more exciting than playing for a team that represents my family roots. I have always been proud of my Jamaican heritage and joining the national team is a dream come true.”
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Jamaica face the USA, Trinidad and Tobago and as yet unnamed opponent in the group stage of the Gold Cup, which begins later this week. His involvement follows a rollercoaster year at Everton, during which he scored six goals in a team that struggled to find the back of the net. Gray’s stunning strike at Manchester City was a contender for goal of the season, while his late equaliser at home to Nottingham Forest was a crucial moment in the opening weeks of the season.
Looking ahead to representing Jamaica, whose football team is nicknamed the Reggae Boyz, he added: “With renewed ambition and exciting plans in the team’s pipeline, it feels like the perfect time to take this next step and I can't wait to prove myself to the country and earn the right to represent Jamaica.”
Jamaica's final group game is on July 2. The final of the tournament takes place on July 16. Two days earlier, Everton begin their pre-season programme of friendlies against Stade Nyonnais in Nyon, Switzerland.
Sean Dyche’s side will face the Swiss second division outfit at their Centre Sportif De Colovray complex as part of a pre-season training camp on the Swiss-French border.
