Everton fans are buzzing with anticipation as the club ramps up its efforts to secure a sensational loan move for Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, a player whose dazzling performances once lit up the Premier League. With manager David Moyes publicly backing himself to revive the 29-year-old’s Aston Villa form, the Toffees are poised to make a statement signing ahead of their move to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium for the 2025/26 season. After Southampton rebuffed a £50m bid for their teenage star Tyler Dibling, Everton have shifted focus to Grealish, whose blend of creativity, experience, and flair could transform the squad. Moyes’s promise to unlock the winger’s potential has ignited optimism, with Grealish’s impressive statistical record at Villa offering a glimpse of what he could bring to Merseyside.
Grealish, a three-time Premier League champion, has struggled for game time at Manchester City, starting just seven league matches last season and missing out on their FIFA Club World Cup squad in June 2025. His £100m move from Aston Villa in 2021 made him a British record signing, but Pep Guardiola’s tactical constraints have dimmed the free-spirited brilliance that defined his Villa days. Despite this, Grealish’s final season at Villa Park in 2020/21 was a masterclass, with seven goals and 10 assists across all competitions, including 6 goals and 10 assists in 26 Premier League games. His ability to create 5.44 shooting chances per 90 minutes outshone Everton’s top performer, Dwight McNeil, who managed 4.73, highlighting Grealish’s potential to elevate the Toffees’ attack. “He is a really good player and probably the best player in the Premier League at this time,” Moyes said of Grealish in 2021, a sentiment he reiterated recently, expressing confidence in giving the winger “a bit more freedom” to “cause chaos” as he did at Villa.
Moyes, who returned to Everton in January 2025, is on a mission to rebuild a squad depleted by the departure of over 10 players, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Abdoulaye Doucoure. His vision is to create a team capable of challenging for European places, a goal he believes Grealish can help achieve. “We’re desperate to get things moving on because we know time’s running out,” Moyes told reporters during Everton’s U.S. pre-season tour, acknowledging the club’s struggles to finalize deals. “The one thing I’ll do is I’ll tell the fans straight, and I’m telling it straight at the moment, we’re having a bit of a struggle getting ones in quickly.” Despite a challenging pre-season, with losses to Bournemouth and West Ham, new signings like Thierno Barry, Adam Aznou, and Mark Travers signal ambition, but Grealish would be a marquee addition.
The financial hurdles are significant, with Grealish’s £300,000-a-week wages posing a challenge. Everton are pushing for a loan deal, potentially with a £5m-£10m fee and City covering two-thirds of his salary, making the move feasible. “I think with Moyes giving him a bit more freedom than he might get at City, this would work,” said Keith Wyness, former Everton and Aston Villa CEO, who worked closely with Grealish at Villa. “I’ve never seen a player receive a ball and make himself an extra yard in the way that he just controls it. I’m a great fan.” Wyness believes Grealish’s desire to stay in Cheshire, where he recently welcomed his first child with partner Sasha Attwood, aligns with Everton’s pitch to keep him in the north.
The move faces competition from Napoli, West Ham, and a potential Aston Villa return, but Everton’s edge lies in Moyes’s promise to make Grealish the centerpiece of his attack. “Everton; we know they’re in the market for wingers – I think Grealish would be a very shrewd signing if Everton were able to pull it off,” said transfer insider Pete O’Rourke, noting Moyes’s belief in rejuvenating the player. Grealish’s hunger to secure a spot in England’s 2026 World Cup squad under Thomas Tuchel adds urgency, as he needs regular minutes to rediscover his form. His 2024/25 season stats—three goals and five assists in 32 appearances—show he remains a creative force, despite limited starts.
For Everton fans, reeling from a winless pre-season, Grealish’s potential arrival is a beacon of hope. “We are all desperate to give the supporters something again,” Moyes said, emphasizing his commitment to exciting the fanbase. While concerns linger about Grealish’s fit alongside left-sided players like Iliman Ndiaye, his versatility and experience could address Everton’s need for a right-winger. As the transfer window nears its close, the prospect of Grealish donning the blue jersey has sparked dreams of a revival, with Moyes’s bold vision and Grealish’s Villa-era stats fueling belief in a transformative season at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
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