Everton have completed a deal to sign Manchester City winger Jack Grealish on a season-long loan, offering the England international a fresh start after a difficult spell under Pep Guardiola.
The 29-year-old, who earns around £300,000 a week, has fallen out of favour at the Etihad and was left out of City’s squad for their final Premier League game last season at Fulham and for the Club World Cup in the United States.
A medical is imminent after both clubs reached an agreement, according to BBC Sport sources.
Grealish joined City from Aston Villa in August 2021 for a then-British record £100m fee. In over 150 appearances, he has collected three Premier League titles, a Champions League medal, and an FA Cup.
However, his playing time has diminished sharply. Last season, he made just seven league starts as City finished the campaign without a major trophy. In the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, he was left on the bench in favour of teenage talent Claudio Echeverri.
Initially, Grealish had hoped for a permanent move and preferred a Champions League club, but no offers arrived from the likes of Newcastle United or Tottenham Hotspur. Everton may not offer European football, but their new Hill Dickinson Stadium presents an opportunity for him to become the star man once again—and potentially force his way back into the England squad after missing Euro 2024.
Grealish’s Diminishing Role at Manchester City
The decline has been steep since Grealish’s peak in City’s 2022-23 treble-winning campaign. That season, he started the FA Cup final and all seven Champions League knockout matches, logging more Premier League minutes than most of his outfield teammates.
A hamstring injury in 2023-24 disrupted his momentum, and his final stats were telling—more yellow cards (seven) than combined goals and assists (six) in all competitions.
He played just 40% of City’s available minutes despite being fit for most of the season, and his impact dwindled even further last year. Of his limited starts, several came against lower-league opposition in the FA Cup.
Grealish’s trademark dribbling flair, once the hallmark of his Aston Villa days, rarely flourished within City’s structured system. As his confidence waned, so did his ability to influence matches.
Can Grealish Become Everton’s Main Man Again?
For Grealish, the first step at Everton will be regaining both his fitness and mental sharpness after two seasons on the periphery.
David Moyes revitalized Everton following his appointment in January, steering the club to a 13th-place finish, but they’ve been cautious in the transfer market this summer. Grealish’s arrival will be their marquee signing ahead of their debut season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has shown willingness to recall out-of-favour players such as Marcus Rashford and Kyle Walker, meaning Grealish’s international ambitions aren’t dead. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, a strong season on Merseyside could reignite his Three Lions career.
Grealish’s journey from Aston Villa captain to £100m City signing was supposed to be a dream. He thrived in City’s treble season, contributing five goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances, but the momentum has since evaporated. Now, the ball is firmly in his court.
The Lows… and the Turning Point
Grealish’s troubles began in late 2021 when Guardiola warned him and Phil Foden about off-field conduct. The 2023-24 season brought further challenges—injury setbacks, a preference for Jeremy Doku on the wing, and more bookings than attacking returns.
Missing Euro 2024 was a blow, and those close to him say it hit his confidence hard. Guardiola publicly challenged him to rediscover his treble-winning form, but his minutes dropped to just 30% last season—his lowest since his early career.
Speculation about his future grew after he was omitted from City’s squad for the Club World Cup. Yet, there has been no public fallout with Guardiola; instead, Grealish continued to train professionally at the club’s facilities.
Everton’s offer now gives him the chance to reset his career. At 29, the former Villa talisman still has time to remind the football world why he became Britain’s first £100m player.
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