On August 12, 2025, Everton confirmed the loan signing of Jack Grealish from Manchester City for the entirety of the 2025-26 Premier League season. The 29-year-old England international will don the number 18 shirt for the Toffees, stepping into a new role that promises both challenges and opportunity.

Grealish’s journey at Manchester City, which began in August 2021 with a British record transfer fee of around £100 million, has been a mixture of highs and setbacks. While his debut season contributed to City’s treble-winning campaign, subsequent seasons were hampered by injuries and limited playing time.

Last season, he made only seven league starts and struggled to find consistency, culminating in his omission from England’s Euros squad in 2024.

Meanwhile, with Grealish’s departure, Manchester City has assigned the iconic number 10 shirt to Rayan Cherki, the French midfielder who joined City from Lyon earlier this summer. Cherki had initially worn No. 29 at the FIFA Club World Cup but now takes on the symbolic No. 10, following the legacy of former greats like Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko. 

Everton manager David Moyes expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, highlighting Grealish’s Premier League experience and technical skill. “We’re getting him at a good time because he understands the league and knows what he’s capable of,” Moyes said, underscoring the hope that Grealish’s creativity will provide a spark for Everton’s attack.

Tactical Fit and Expectations

At Manchester City, Grealish’s role was often constrained by Pep Guardiola’s tactical system, which prioritized team structure over individual freedom. His limited minutes and injury concerns affected his form and confidence.

The move to Everton offers a chance to rediscover the freedom to express himself on the pitch as a key playmaker rather than a role player.

Everton, known for less possession-dominant football compared to City, will require Grealish to work harder defensively. His previous spells at Aston Villa showcased his ability to thrive when given the license to create chances one-on-one with opponents, and Moyes hopes to harness that in his new team.

Grealish’s presence should complement standout players like Iliman Ndiaye, potentially allowing Ndiaye to take on a more central creative role while Grealish operates with attacking freedom. 

Financial Details and Future Prospects

The loan deal reportedly includes Everton covering around 75 percent of Grealish’s substantial weekly wage, approximately £225,000, with uncertainty remains over a loan fee. A purchase option of around £50 million is embedded in the agreement but is not mandatory for Everton to exercise.

For Manchester City, the loan represents a strategic move to manage squad depth and wages, while potentially recouping a significant transfer fee in the future if Everton opts to make the deal permanent.

Pep Guardiola has expressed candid support for Grealish, acknowledging his quality and hinting that this loan was in the best interest of the player’s career rejuvenation.

For Grealish, the 2025-26 season is a pivotal moment to regain form and consistency, showcase his talents regularly, and perhaps prove that he can return to the highest echelons of English football‘s elite.

Everton, meanwhile, anxiously await the impact their marquee signing will have on their Premier League ambitions.