Everton have agreed a season-long loan deal for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, bringing an end—at least temporarily—to a turbulent spell at the Etihad. The 29-year-old England international, who joined City from Aston Villa in 2021 for a then-British record fee of £100 million, is set to undergo a medical in the coming days before being unveiled as the Toffees’ marquee summer signing.
Sources indicate that the deal is structured to cover his £300,000-a-week wages, although the exact financial breakdown between the clubs remains under wraps. This move follows Grealish’s omission from City’s squad for both their final Premier League match against Fulham and the Club World Cup in the United States—clear signs that his time under Pep Guardiola had reached a standstill.
Grealish had hoped for a permanent transfer and had shown interest in joining a Champions League club, with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur loosely linked. However, no formal offers emerged, and Everton’s proactive approach—combined with the promise of regular playing time—proved decisive.
From Treble Glory to Fringe Player
Just two seasons ago, Grealish was at the peak of his powers. He played a central role in Manchester City’s historic 2022–23 Treble, starting every Champions League knockout game and helping secure the FA Cup and Premier League titles. Only six outfield players clocked more minutes for City in the league that season, underlining his importance.
However, a hamstring injury early in the 2023–24 campaign stalled his momentum. He ended that season with more yellow cards (seven) than combined goals and assists (six), featuring in only 40% of City’s total minutes despite being available for 82% of them. The following year was even bleaker: his minutes dropped to just 30%, with only 16 starts—his lowest tally since he was 20.
In the meantime, younger and more direct options like Jeremy Doku were favoured, and Guardiola’s tactical demands often left little room for Grealish’s trademark free-flowing dribbles. His diminishing influence became starkly clear when teenage Argentine Claudio Echeverri was chosen ahead of him for the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace.
A New Challenge at Everton
For Grealish, the move to Goodison Park’s successor—the state-of-the-art Hill Dickinson Stadium—represents both a career reset and a fresh opportunity to lead from the front. Everton, revitalised under David Moyes since January, finished 13th last season but are eager to make a statement with this signing.
Moyes sees Grealish as the creative fulcrum who can elevate Everton’s attacking play. For the player, the challenge will be to regain match sharpness and rebuild confidence after two seasons spent largely on the bench. His ability to adapt to a side that thrives on intensity and counter-attacks could determine how quickly he wins over the new fanbase.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Grealish also has personal motivation. England manager Thomas Tuchel has shown a willingness to select out-of-favour club players—Marcus Rashford and Kyle Walker being recent examples—so a return to form could yet see him reclaim a place in the national squad.
The Decline That Sparked His Departure
The downturn in Grealish’s City career was not simply a matter of injury. He had previously been warned by Guardiola over off-field conduct alongside Phil Foden in 2021, but it was his on-pitch output that truly suffered. The 2023–24 season was marked by inconsistency, and his numbers in chance creation and dribbling success rates were the lowest since his Aston Villa days.
Being left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad was another psychological blow, with those close to him saying it significantly dented his confidence. Guardiola’s public comments in January—urging him to rediscover the “Jack that won the Treble”—only highlighted the gap between expectation and reality.
Despite no public falling out, his exclusion from major squads and tournaments was telling. By the summer of 2025, the writing was on the wall. Everton’s offer has provided him a lifeline, but the challenge of recapturing his old swagger will be his biggest test yet.
Can Grealish Reignite His Career?
Grealish’s journey from Aston Villa talisman to Manchester City squad player has been a tale of highs and lows. At Villa, he was the heartbeat of the team—a fearless dribbler who carried the ball from deep, created openings, and led his boyhood club back to the Premier League. At City, he initially adapted and thrived in Guardiola’s structured system, even becoming a key part of their European triumph.
However, football’s unforgiving nature means past glories count for little without present performance. Everton now offer him the stage to prove he is more than just a luxury player. For the Toffees, the hope is that Grealish’s arrival sparks a creative resurgence; for the player, the goal is simple—play, perform, and be loved again.
If he can deliver in blue what he once did in claret and sky, Grealish could not only resurrect his career but also alter the narrative that his talent was wasted at City. The coming season will decide whether this is a temporary revival or the start of a lasting comeback.
