After being named Premier League Player of the Month for August, Everton's Jack Grealish has now received the Lord Ouseley Award
Everton's Jack Grealish receives the Lord Ouseley Award
Everton's Jack Grealish receives the Lord Ouseley Award
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Jack Grealish is the most fouled player in the Premier League this season and also recorded passing accuracy of 100% against Fulham on Saturday. And after being named Premier League Player of the Month for the first time in the week of his 30th birthday following four assists in his first two starts at Everton, he has now collected another prize.
Grealish, who joined the Blues on a season-long loan move from Manchester City has been honoured with the Sports Journalists’ Association’s Lord Ouseley Award for 2025. The Lord Ouseley Award recognises an individual or organisation within sport that has led the fight against racism and discrimination, while promoting equality and inclusion in sport and wider society. The England international was presented with the award, in association with Sky Sports and Kick It Out, by KIO chief executive Samuel Okafor at Finch Farm on Tuesday. Presenting the prize, Okafor said: “This is a really special award. Lord Ouseley was all about making the game and sport more welcoming and more inclusive for everybody.
“This year we are delighted to give the award to Jack Grealish for the incredible work he continues to do as ambassador for the special Olympics, the way he uses his platform to raise awareness around disabilities and the way he embraces fans, particularly the young Man City fan who has cerebral palsy. Congratulations to Jack on the incredible work he is doing.”
Originally the Sky/Kick It Out award for equality and inclusion in sport, the award was renamed in honour of the late Lord Herman Ouseley, founder of the anti-racism charity Kick It Out, following his passing in October 2024.
Previous winners include Gareth Southgate, swimming's Alice Dearing, Troy Deeney and Baroness Sue Campbell, the first winner under its new title. Grealish has long spoken of the influence of his sister, Hollie, who has cerebral palsy, but not just a champion of equality and inclusion, in 2024 and 2025 he took tangible steps that went beyond symbolism into direct action and support.
One striking example took place via Manchester City’s “City in the Community” (CITC) programme when Grealish surprised and played with a One City Disability participant in the club’s Sensory Room, joined him in a match of EA FC 24 and presented a framed signed memento — actions that drew public attention to the club’s powerchair and disability inclusion programmes.
Everton's Jack Grealish receives the Lord Ouseley Award for 2025 from Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor at Finch Farm
Everton's Jack Grealish receives the Lord Ouseley Award for 2025 from Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor at Finch Farm
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In doing so, Grealish not only elevated individual stories, but reinforced the importance of creating accessible sporting spaces. In another deeply meaningful gesture, sent a personalised video message to a teenage footballer with cerebral palsy who had been told by the system he was “not disabled enough” to play para-football. His words — urging the young player to persist, maintain hope, and keep playing — resonated across the football and disability communities.
Grealish also kept his promise to a young Manchester City fan, Finlay, who has cerebral palsy, by doing a special celebratory dance for him after scoring at the World Cup in 2022. In addition, Grealish is also a principal ambassador for Special Olympics GB, a non-profit organisation that provides sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
He took on the long-term role in June 2022 to raise awareness for the organisation, drive support, and champion inclusion and not just a figurehead, he has actively shared the organisation’s efforts, supported events and helped to maintain visibility for athletes with intellectual disabilities.