Jack Grealish has completed a season-long loan move to Everton from Manchester City, ending his nightmare spell at the Etihad Stadium where he managed just seven Premier League starts last season and fell dramatically out of favour under Pep Guardiola.
The 29-year-old England international underwent a medical at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground on Monday ahead of finalising the switch that includes a £50 million option to buy next summer. The winger will wear the number 18 shirt at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, following in the footsteps of Paul Gascoigne and Wayne Rooney.
Grealish’s eagerness to resurrect his stalled career became evident when sources close to the deal revealed he had gone “above and beyond” to make the transfer happen, desperate to secure regular first-team football ahead of next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“Jack is an exceptional player and he has to play,” Guardiola said in June when discussing the winger’s future. “These last two seasons, he has not played much and he must find playing time, the excitement of playing every three days and showing all his qualities again.”
The financial implications of the deal are substantial, with Everton reportedly committing at least £12 million to cover a significant portion of Grealish’s £300,000-a-week wages. Sky Sports journalist Alan Myers reported the total cost could reach £15 million, making it a considerable investment for the Merseyside club.
Manchester City’s decision to exclude Grealish from their Club World Cup squad in June effectively signalled the end of his time at the club. The omission came after a dismal campaign in which the former Aston Villa captain scored just three goals and provided five assists in 32 appearances across all competitions.
“The only reason he didn’t play minutes was me, not because he was incorrect or whatever,” Guardiola explained when pressed about leaving Grealish out of the prestigious tournament squad.
David Moyes, who returned to Everton in January, has long been an admirer of Grealish and views him as a potential number 10 rather than a traditional left winger. Sky Sports pundit Rob Dorsett suggested this tactical switch could prove crucial, stating: “David Moyes is a huge admirer of Grealish and thinks he could do a really good job for Everton. That probably means using him as a No 10 rather than as a left winger.”
The move represents a spectacular fall from grace for Britain’s most expensive player, who joined City for £100 million in 2021. His market value has plummeted to between £28 million and £41 million according to various estimates, representing a depreciation of more than 65% from his record-breaking transfer fee.
Sources familiar with the negotiations revealed that Everton moved quickly to secure Grealish’s signature amid interest from multiple clubs including Serie A champions Napoli, Newcastle United and West Ham. The Italian side were reportedly put off by his substantial wages, whilst neither Newcastle nor Tottenham made formal approaches despite being linked.
“They have to compete with himself,” Guardiola said earlier this year about Grealish’s struggles for form. “Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack. I want the Jack that won the treble. You have to prove that every single day, and every single week and every single month.”
The England international’s decline at City has been stark. After playing a pivotal role in their 2023 treble-winning season, Grealish failed to score a single club goal throughout the entire 2024 calendar year and managed just one Premier League start during 2025.
Former Sky Sports journalist Alan Myers revealed on social media that Grealish “really wants to join Everton,” with the player viewing the move as essential to revive his international career under new England manager Thomas Tuchel.
“This is a player who will be fully aware there is a World Cup on the horizon next summer, and he has not been part of Thomas Tuchel’s plans as of yet,” Dorsett explained. “So this is vital to accelerate his career. As things stand, he is absolutely miles off even being considered for selection by Tuchel because he is just not playing enough games.”
Everton’s capture of Grealish represents their most high-profile signing of the summer transfer window as they prepare for their inaugural season at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Toffees have already recruited Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Carlos Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, Mark Travers and Adam Aznou as Moyes looks to build a squad capable of challenging for European qualification.
City recognised Grealish’s need for regular football in a World Cup year, with sources indicating this was partly behind their decision to leave him out of the Club World Cup squad. They wanted to give him a full pre-season to find the best move for his career resurrection.
The winger’s struggles at City were compounded by increased scrutiny of his off-field lifestyle, though Guardiola consistently defended his player’s private life, stating: “I judge what I see on the pitch, the training sessions and the performances in the game.”
If the loan proves successful, Everton will have the option to make the deal permanent for £50 million next summer, though this figure appears optimistic given Grealish will be 30 and entering the final year of his City contract.
Grealish could make his Everton debut in their Premier League opener at Leeds United on Monday night, live on Sky Sports, as he begins the crucial task of proving he can still perform at the highest level and force his way back into England contention.
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Image Credit (Shortened):
Jack Grealish during Manchester City’s open practice, 22 July 2024 – by Hameltion, licensed under CC BY‑SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
