BBC Radio Merseyside’s Giulia Bould has raised an interesting point about Everton’s deadline-day deal for Jack Grealish following the guilty verdict against Manchester City.
The Everton winger returned to the Hill Dickinson on another season-long loan after the Blues had been linked with a permanent move during the summer.
Everton waited until late in the window before completing the deal, with Grealish ultimately returning on loan rather than for a permanent transfer fee.
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Bould wrote: “Tell you what, Everton played a blinder holding out to not pay a fee to City for Jack Grealish and activating another loan in the circumstances.”
It’s a point worth considering after the independent commission’s findings against City.
Tell you what, Everton played a blinder holding out to not pay a fee to City for Jack Grealish and activating another loan in the circumstances https://t.co/nyzs2t9liY
— Giulia Bould (@GiuliaBould) September 30, 2026
There is no evidence that Everton knew what the commission would decide when negotiating with Manchester City, or that the financial case influenced their approach to the transfer.
What is clear is that Everton did not commit to a permanent fee for Grealish. They instead waited until the end of the window and agreed another loan. That left Everton with the player they wanted without paying City a permanent transfer fee.
Bould’s observation doesn’t tell us why Everton took that approach. It does, however, highlight how their decision looks now that the commission has delivered its verdict and City are preparing an appeal.
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