As the summer transfer window heats up, Jack Grealish, the 29-year-old Manchester City star, finds himself at a crossroads, with his future at the Etihad Stadium shrouded in uncertainty. Amid swirling speculation, former Everton defender Alan Stubbs has emerged as an unexpected voice in the narrative, revealing a candid conversation he shared with Grealish during a chance encounter in Marbella. Stubbs, a Toffees icon, passionately urged the England international to consider a move to Everton, believing it could reignite the spark that made Grealish a household name at Aston Villa. With Everton’s ambitious plans for their new Hill Dickinson Stadium and manager David Moyes’ vision for attacking flair, Grealish’s next move could redefine his career.
Grealish’s journey since his £100 million transfer from Aston Villa to Manchester City in 2021 has been a tale of triumphs and challenges. The Birmingham-born winger, who became the most expensive British player at the time, played a pivotal role in City’s 2022-23 treble, including their first UEFA Champions League title. However, injuries and inconsistent form have seen his star fade, with only seven Premier League starts in the 2024-25 season. “He’s gone there, won titles, won trophies, but he’s not been the same Jack Grealish we’ve seen at Villa, where he had freedom to be himself,” Stubbs said on talkSPORT Breakfast, reflecting on Grealish’s struggles. The arrival of young talents like Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki, coupled with Pep Guardiola’s tactical evolution, has pushed Grealish to the fringes, prompting City to open the door to a loan move, albeit with a steep £300,000-a-week wage demand.
Stubbs’ encounter with Grealish in Marbella was a moment of serendipity. “To be honest, I had a night out with Jack in the summer over in Marbella,” he shared, setting the stage for his heartfelt advice. “I think from an Everton point of view, Jack Grealish needs to be loved again, needs to start enjoying his football.” Stubbs believes Everton, under Moyes’ leadership, could offer Grealish the creative freedom he thrived on at Villa, where he dazzled with his dribbling and playmaking. “I think David Moyes would give him that, he’d absolutely relish it at Everton,” Stubbs added, emphasizing the potential for Grealish to rediscover his joy on Merseyside. The sentiment resonates with Everton fans, who see Grealish as a marquee signing to mark their transition to the state-of-the-art Hill Dickinson Stadium in 2025-26.
Everton’s interest is more than speculative; the club has initiated talks for a season-long loan, though financial hurdles loom large. City’s insistence on full wage coverage poses a challenge, as Everton’s wage structure cannot accommodate Grealish’s hefty salary without City subsidizing a portion or Grealish accepting a pay cut. Other clubs, including West Ham, Tottenham, Napoli, and Fenerbahce, have been linked, but Everton’s proximity to Grealish’s Cheshire home and Moyes’ track record of empowering creative players make the Toffees an appealing destination. “I think we all want to see that Jack Grealish,” Stubbs said, echoing a broader desire to see the winger’s flair return. Former City midfielder Gareth Barry also endorsed the move, telling the Liverpool Echo, “If I was sitting in Jack’s shoes, I’d be wanting to go out there and prove everyone wrong.”
Grealish’s limited game time has also impacted his international career. Excluded from England’s Euro 2024 squad and yet to be recalled by new manager Thomas Tuchel, he faces an uphill battle to secure a spot for the 2026 World Cup. “He’ll be thinking he can still get in the England squad, if he can play regular football,” Barry noted, highlighting the stakes for Grealish. Despite his love for City—expressed passionately to fans at an Oasis concert in Heaton Park, where he declared, “You know what, bro, I love City more than anything!”—Grealish reportedly acknowledges his career at the Etihad may be nearing its end.
As Everton prepare for their pre-season friendly against Accrington Stanley, Moyes is pushing for signings to bolster an attack that struggled last season, finishing 13th. The recent £25 million acquisition of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea signals their ambition, but Grealish could be the statement signing to galvanize the squad. A past altercation with Everton’s Nathan Patterson in 2023, where tensions flared post-match, suggests Grealish’s integration could require careful management, but Moyes’ admiration for his talent is unwavering. With the transfer window entering its final weeks, Grealish’s decision—whether to embrace Stubbs’ advice and join Everton or seek a fresh start elsewhere—promises to be a defining moment in his storied career.
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