Everton have reached an agreement to sign Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City, with a £50 million ($67.3m) option to buy included in the deal.
The transfer is yet to be finalised, but a medical is scheduled for today as the England international closes in on a move to Hill Dickinson Stadium . It was first reported on August 6 that Everton had opened talks with City over a potential switch for the 29-year-old attacker, whose contract at the Etihad runs until 2027.
Grealish endured a frustrating 2024/25 season at City, making just 16 starts in all competitions, including only seven in the Premier League. He was left out of the squad for the final league game of the season against Fulham and was omitted from the team that travelled to the United States for this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
With Phil Foden, Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush, and Bernardo Silva all ahead of him in the pecking order, Grealish has been pushed to the periphery under Pep Guardiola.
A Decorated Career, Now at a Crossroads
After rising through the ranks at Aston Villa, where he became club captain and fan favourite, Grealish joined City in 2021 for a British record £100 million fee. During his time at the Etihad, he won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup, and the Club World Cup, making 157 appearances, scoring 17 goals and registering 23 assists.
His finest campaign came in 2022/23, when he played a key role in City’s historic treble-winning season, starting every Champions League knockout game.
Despite last season’s dip in form, Guardiola remained publicly supportive, saying in January: “Do I want the Jack that won the treble? Yeah, I want it… I fought a lot for him to be here. I know he can do it because I’ve seen it.”
Everton’s Fifth Signing – and Potential Talisman
Should the deal be completed, Grealish will become Everton’s fifth summer signing, following the arrivals of Thierno Barry (Villarreal), Mark Travers (Bournemouth), Adam Aznou (Bayern Munich), and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Chelsea). Carlos Alcaraz also joined permanently after his loan spell last season.
The move signals further ambition from Everton’s new American owners, The Friedkin Group, who have backed David Moyes with significant investment as the club enters a new era at the 52,769-capacity Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Grealish is expected to take on a leading creative role, primarily operating from the left or central attacking midfield positions. However, Everton will need to carefully manage the balance in attacking areas, with Iliman Ndiaye, the club’s standout attacker last season, and new signing Dewsbury-Hall also thriving in similar roles.
While the financial commitment is substantial — Everton are expected to cover a significant portion of Grealish’s reported £300,000-a-week wages — the club believes the potential upside justifies the risk.
High Risk, High Reward?
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, Grealish will be eager to revive his form and break back into Thomas Tuchel’s plans. For Everton, the loan represents a gamble — but one that could pay off spectacularly if the former Villa captain rediscovers his best form.
In a summer already marked by bold moves, the Grealish deal stands out as a possible defining moment for the early tenure of TFG and a statement of intent that the years of austerity at Everton may finally be over.
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