Lucas Digne and Fabian Delph are among the Everton players to have said goodbye to Bernard on Instagram after the Brazilian completed a permanent move to Sharjah FC.
Bernard joins the United Arab Emirates outfit for just €1m (£850k), per Goal, three years after arriving on Merseyside. Everton acquired the midfielder on a free transfer during Marco Silva’s first window in charge, after he left Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk.
But Bernard struggled to hold down a regular role at Everton under Silva or the Portuguese’s successor Carlo Ancelotti. The 28-year-old particularly struggled under the Italian, starting just three of his 11 appearances in the Premier League last season.
Bernard also scored once and failed to provide an assist in the top-flight last term. His sole strike of the campaign also coming in November, while playing just 241 of a possible 2,070 minutes in 2021. Hardly befitting a player who was the Blues’ joint-top earner, per Spotrac.
The midfielder was earning £120,000-per-week at Goodison Park but has accepted a pay cut to leave. Goal add Sharjah FC have awarded Bernard a £10m, two-year contract to leave Everton, equating to £96k-p/w. The deal also features a one-year option to extend.
Bernard posts Instagram farewell ahead of joining Sharjah FC
Reports had linked Bernard with a move to Russian side Zenit St Petersburg recently, which his agent dismissed. And, taking to Instagram, Bernard has thanked Everton’s supporters and players ahead of joining Sharjah FC.
Everton players Digne and Delph reply to Bernard Instagram farewell
Several Everton players, including Delph and Digne, have responded to Bernard’s post ahead of the midfielder joining Sharjah FC. Here are a selection of the comments posted…
“All the best” – Lucas Digne
“Good luck brother, I’ll always be cheering for you” – Allan
“Good luck Berni” – Anthony Gordon
“Crack Bernie all the best bro” – Abdoulaye Doucoure
“You’re a star my friend, all the best to you and your family.” – Fabian Delph
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