Jack Grealish, Manchester City’s £100 million talisman, stands at a pivotal moment in his career as transfer speculation swirls around the England international. The 29-year-old midfielder, whose flair and swagger were instrumental in City’s 2022-23 treble triumph, has seen his role diminish under Pep Guardiola, sparking interest from Everton for a season-long loan in the 2025 transfer window. However, Manchester City’s steep condition—that any loaning club cover Grealish’s entire £300,000-a-week salary—has emerged as a significant obstacle in negotiations with the Toffees, who are eager to make the former Aston Villa captain their marquee signing. With other clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Napoli in the race, Grealish’s potential move to Goodison Park promises to be a dramatic saga with implications for his career and England’s 2026 World Cup ambitions.
Grealish’s journey at Manchester City has been a rollercoaster since his record-breaking transfer from Villa in 2021. A key figure in the 2022-23 season, he played in every Champions League knockout match, contributing to City’s historic first title in the competition. “I’m the person who fought for him to come here and the person who fought for him to stay here this season and the next season,” Guardiola said, defending his faith in Grealish despite a sharp decline in his playing time. In the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, Grealish managed only seven starts, scoring one goal and providing one assist across 20 appearances. His exclusion from the squad for City’s final match against Fulham and an unused substitute role in their FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace underscored his reduced status. The emergence of young talents like Rayan Cherki and established stars like Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, and Kevin De Bruyne has crowded City’s attacking midfield, pushing Grealish to the periphery.
Everton, revitalized under David Moyes and backed by The Friedkin Group’s recent takeover, see Grealish as the ideal catalyst to elevate their attack. The Toffees, who finished 13th in 2024-25 with one of the league’s lowest goal tallies, have already bolstered their squad with signings like Charly Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, and Mark Travers. Grealish’s creativity and Premier League experience make him a prime target, and reports suggest he is “excited” about joining a club where he could rediscover his starring role. “Everton’s one of the biggest clubs in the country, and I think in the next couple of years, the future is going to be bright,” said Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Everton’s £25 million acquisition from Chelsea, reflecting the optimism at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Yet, City’s demand that Everton cover Grealish’s full £15.6 million annual salary—equivalent to $20 million—has stalled talks. The Toffees proposed a partial wage contribution, alongside a potential £10 million loan fee, but City’s insistence on full coverage poses a financial strain for a club navigating budget constraints after a failed £40 million bid for Southampton’s Tyler Dibling.
Other suitors are circling, adding complexity to Grealish’s future. Tottenham Hotspur, under Ange Postecoglou, view him as a versatile addition to their attacking options, while Napoli, the reigning Serie A champions, offer the allure of European football. A sentimental return to Aston Villa, where Grealish was captain before his City move, has also been floated, though Villa’s focus on younger prospects and lack of Champions League football make it a less likely option. Grealish’s preference to remain in northwest England, close to his Manchester home, gives Everton an edge, but the wage issue remains a sticking point. His rejection of a lucrative offer from Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce signals his determination to stay in a top league, and he has been training with a personal coach to maintain peak fitness, driven by a desire to reclaim his spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad after missing Euro 2024. “You need to have a thick skin to play for England,” Grealish once said, a mindset he’ll need as he navigates this uncertain period.
The financial hurdle reflects broader challenges in Grealish’s situation. With two years left on his contract until 2027, City value him at £40-60 million for a permanent transfer, but his high wages and recent dip in form make a loan more practical. Everton’s ambition to build a competitive squad under Moyes hinges on creative deal-making, but City’s hardline stance could force them to explore alternatives. As negotiations continue, Grealish’s future remains a high-stakes puzzle. A move to Everton could offer the stage to revive his career as a “star” attacker, as one analyst described, but only if the financial pieces fall into place. With the transfer window ticking, the football world watches to see if Grealish can rediscover his spark and silence his doubters.
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