In a move that has sent shockwaves through the football world, Everton are aggressively pursuing a loan deal for Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, aiming to bring the England star to their new Hill Dickinson Stadium for the 2025-26 Premier League season. The Toffees, buoyed by fresh optimism under the Friedkin Group’s ownership, believe they hold a distinct advantage over rivals West Ham United and Napoli in the race to secure the 29-year-old winger’s signature. This audacious transfer push underscores Everton’s determination to make a statement as they prepare to leave Goodison Park behind and embrace a transformative chapter in their storied history.
Grealish, once the most expensive British transfer at £100 million when he joined Manchester City from Aston Villa in 2021, has struggled to secure a consistent starting role under Pep Guardiola. His exclusion from City’s Club World Cup squad in 2025 and limited starts last season—only seven in the Premier League—have fueled speculation about his future. “Jack, exceptional player… he has to play,” Guardiola said in June, acknowledging the winger’s need for regular minutes. “In the last two seasons, he didn’t play much, and he has to come back to play, have the butterflies in his stomach that he can play every three days and show again the quality he has.” For Grealish, a move away from the Etihad could be the key to reigniting his career and securing his spot in England’s 2026 World Cup squad under Thomas Tuchel, who has emphasized the need for Grealish to play regularly. “He’s a unique player but he needs minutes and minutes and minutes, and he simply does not get them,” Tuchel noted.
Everton’s interest in Grealish is more than opportunistic—it’s a calculated move to address their attacking woes. Last season, the Toffees scored a mere 42 goals in the Premier League, the lowest among non-relegated teams. Grealish, known for his flair and ability to create chances, could be the creative spark Everton desperately need. While not a prolific goalscorer, his record of 17 goals and 23 assists at Manchester City, and 32 goals with 43 assists in 213 games for Aston Villa, highlights his potential to transform Everton’s frontline. His knack for winning free kicks could also bolster their set-piece prowess, which accounted for 10 goals last season, ranking them joint seventh in the league.
The Toffees’ confidence stems from a key advantage: Grealish’s preference to remain in northwest England. Having welcomed a daughter with his partner, Sasha Attwood, in September 2024, the winger is reportedly keen on stability, making a move to Merseyside more appealing than a transfer to Napoli or even West Ham. Everton’s new manager, David Moyes, a long-time admirer of Grealish, is prepared to build the team around him, offering the creative freedom he has lacked at City. “He is a really good player and probably the best player in the Premier League at this time,” Moyes said of Grealish in 2021 during his time at Aston Villa. This vision aligns with the Friedkin Group’s ambition to signal a new era at the state-of-the-art Hill Dickinson Stadium.
However, the deal is not without hurdles. Grealish’s £300,000-a-week wages pose a significant challenge, with Everton likely unable to cover more than half. A loan deal, potentially subsidized by Manchester City, appears the most feasible option, though City may push for a permanent transfer valued at around £40 million—a steep discount from their initial investment. Everton’s compliance with Profit and Sustainability Rules further complicates a permanent move, making a “premium” or “deluxe” loan agreement the focus of negotiations. Despite interest from West Ham, where fan and TV personality Thomas Skinner has humorously championed Grealish’s signing, and Napoli, Everton remain optimistic about their position in the race.
The Toffees’ transfer strategy extends beyond Grealish. They recently signed 19-year-old Bayern Munich left-back Adam Aznou for £9 million and are in talks with Lyon for 20-year-old Belgian forward Malick Fofana, valued at over £40 million. These moves reflect Everton’s intent to blend youth with experience, with Grealish’s signing potentially serving as a marquee statement to excite fans ahead of the stadium move. A source close to the club noted, “The player is very happy in Manchester, and that’s one thing that may play into Everton’s hands that he could stay in the north west.”
As the transfer window heats up, Everton’s pursuit of Grealish symbolizes their renewed ambition. A move to Merseyside could offer Grealish the chance to rediscover the form that made him a household name, while Everton could gain a talisman to lead them into a promising future. With Moyes’s backing and the allure of regular minutes, the Toffees are poised to pull off a coup that would have seemed unthinkable just a year ago, setting the stage for a thrilling 2025-26 campaign.
Leave a Reply