Jack Grealish has reportedly verbally agreed to join Everton on a season-long loan from Manchester City—a move that could offer the 29‑year‑old a fresh start and desperately needed game time. With negotiations heating up between the clubs, this potential switch is becoming one of the most intriguing stories of the summer transfer window.
The story begins with Grealish finding himself increasingly on the periphery at City. With just seven Premier League starts last season—and notably excluded from the Club World Cup squad—he fell out of favour under Pep Guardiola’s regime. Despite his past brilliance, including his role in City’s treble-winning campaign, his place in the team has become increasingly unstable. Yet, Grealish remains receptive to a change, reportedly signalling to friends that he’s “open” and even “excited” about the prospect of joining Everton. He sees the new Hill Dickinson Stadium and the promise of regular football as passionately appealing.
Everton, meanwhile, view Grealish as an instrumental addition to reignite their attack. Manager David Moyes has made no secret of his admiration for the England international. The club has already invested heavily into revamping the squad—spending over £78 million on players like Carlos Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, Mark Travers, Adam Aznou, and Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall—and sees Grealish as the finishing touch to their summer overhaul.
Negotiations remain, however, mired in financial complexity. Grealish is reportedly earning £300,000 per week, a wage far beyond Everton’s standard structure. Manchester City insist that any potential borrowing club must cover his full salary. To make the deal palatable, Everton may need to pay a substantial loan fee—estimated around £12 million in total costs, including wage contributions.
One insider noted that Everton are “prepared to do one thing to convince City to make a deal,” including potentially offering a substantial fee to secure the loan. The tone across multiple reports is that Grealish has already said “yes” to the idea, meaning agreement now rests with the clubs themselves. City, while keen to offload the player, are firm in requiring a financial structure that doesn’t burden their wage bill.
Grealish’s motivations for the move are far from purely financial. His silence in the England setup—having missed out on national selection since late 2024—has dampened his prospects of inclusion in the upcoming 2026 World Cup squad. A return to prominence at Everton, Moyes’ admiration, and the promise of a starring role could be exactly what he needs to force his way back into contention.
Of course, not everyone is convinced Everton is the perfect fit. Some pundits have voiced concerns about the current squad’s makeup and argued that a move to Serie A—for example to Napoli—may better suit Grealish’s ambitions. Yet the most tangible progress in real time has occurred with Everton, who remain the front‑runners in this high‑stakes negotiation.
If the deal is completed, it would represent a dramatic shift: a former £100 million record signing retooling his career on loan, aiming to recapture his best form in Everton’s vibrant new setting. For Everton fans, a marquee player willing to step down the wage ladder for the chance to shine could become a defining moment of the summer.
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