Jack Grealish became England’s first-ever £100 million player when he departed Aston Villa for Manchester City in 2021.
The 30-year-old was phenomenal in the Premier League throughout the 2020/21 campaign as he contributed six goals and 12 assists in 27 appearances to help Villa secure a midtable finish.
Aston Villa narrowly avoided relegation to the Championship the season prior, as Dean Smith went on an unbeaten run in the final four matches to remain one point above 17th-placed Bournemouth.
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Now, Grealish is rediscovering his best form on loan at Everton after recording four assists in his first two starts at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Jack Grealish looks on at the travelling Everton fans during a game against Wolves
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
However, the Villa supporters will understandably be baffled after the Englishman won an award in the Premier League following his efforts with the Toffees, something he failed to achieve during his spell at Villa Park.
Jack Grealish wins the Premier League Player of the Month award
The Premier League announced via its official channels that Grealish had been named the Player of the Month for October, marking the first time he has won the award.
Grealish has only been nominated once before; he was up for the award in October of the 2020/21 campaign, most notably after notching two goals and three assists in the notorious 7-2 win against Liverpool at Villa Park.
Nevertheless, he has proven to be one of the most influential players in the top flight on his day, and for him not to have won the award before at Aston Villa or Manchester City will come as a shock to most.
Granted, Grealish is hardly the most beloved name among the Villa faithful, with Michael Owen recently claiming Villa’s reception of Grealish makes him feel “sick”.
The Villans explored re-signing Grealish this summer before he ended up at Everton, but his lucrative wage demands, paired with the club’s PSR constraints, made a potential deal impossible.
Indeed, Grealish has rightfully earned the award, and there will be sections of the Villa support who are pleased to see their former captain enjoying his football once again.
Aston Villa will hope to neutralise Jack Grealish against Everton
Grealish will face his former employers for the first time in Everton colours when Aston Villa travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
The Englishman can make Premier League history if he continues his sensational form in the Premier League, and he is certainly the standout threat facing Unai Emery.
Aston Villa supporters will have the opportunity to see summer signings Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho for the first time since the pair completed their deadline day moves to Villa Park.
And while Grealish will ultimately dominate the headlines heading into the clash, Emery will undoubtedly lean on his new boys as he aims for his first win of the 2025/26 season.