Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has joined Everton on loan for the 2025-26 season in a move aimed at reviving his career after falling out of favour with Pep Guardiola.
The 29-year-old made just seven Premier League starts last season and was omitted from City’s squad for the Club World Cup in the United States, signalling his diminished role under Guardiola. Everton completed the deal, reportedly covering part of Grealish’s £300,000-per-week wages, just days before their Premier League opener at Leeds on August 18.
“I’m over the moon to have signed for Everton – it’s massive for me, honestly. This is a great club, with great fans,” Grealish said. He will wear the number 18 shirt in tribute to Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne. “My two favourite English players ever are Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne and I know they both wore number 18 here. I spoke to Wayne before I came here and I mentioned that to him – about the number 18 – so I hope he’s happy as well.”
Grealish joined City from Aston Villa in 2021 for a then British record fee of £100 million, winning three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup. However, his form dipped after the 2022-23 treble-winning season and he was left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad, a decision he said left him “heartbroken”. Last season, Guardiola kept him on the bench for key matches, including the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace.
Off-field concerns over his lifestyle have added to speculation about his future, but Grealish believes Everton is the right place to rebuild. “As soon as I spoke to the manager, I knew there was only one place that I wanted to go. On social media, I’ve been flooded with messages from Everton supporters, so there’s that side of it as well and that’s another reason why I chose Everton. I want to say thank you to the fans for all of the messages I’ve had already. Thank you for all of the love and support. I hope I can repay you now and I’m sure I will.”
Everton, who have recently moved from Goodison Park to their new Hill Dickinson stadium, see Grealish as their marquee addition after a quiet transfer window for manager David Moyes. “We welcome Jack to Everton and we’re very pleased to have him on board,” Moyes said. “I think we’re getting him at a good time because he’s experienced, he understands the Premier League and we’re all fully aware of the levels he’s capable of performing to. I know Jack’s ambition is to get back into the England squad, so hopefully we can help him achieve that over the course of the season.”
