Jack Grealish is closing in on a season-long loan move to Everton from Manchester City, where he will hope to turn his fortunes around ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Grealish’s stock has fallen at Manchester City after the highs of winning the Champions League in 2023, and he was often left on the bench last season. Pep Guardiola told him to find another club, and Everton look set to sign Grealish for the season.
The loan move gives Grealish a chance to improve his form further down the Premier League table, where he has the chance to be the creative force in Everton’s team rather than his more controlling role at City.
Manchester City v Everton FC - Premier League
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Grealish often got criticism for his lack of goals and assists, even if Guardiola didn’t play him for that specific purpose.
Jack Grealish’s assist record at Man City is level with Jordan Pickford at Everton
Everton will hope Grealish can breathe life into their attack, looking at the England international to replicate his form for Aston Villa in a creative sense. He has undoubtedly become a better player at City, but at the expense of his free-roaming attacking instincts.
One statistic that David Moyes will insist improves is Grealish’s Premier League assists. Last season, with injury and form restricting Grealish to just 20 league appearances, he returned just one single assist.
Fans have noticed that this is the same as Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who set up Abdoulaye Doucoure’s first-minute goal against Leicester last season.
Season Games Goals Assists
2021/22 26 3 3
2022/23 28 5 7
2023/24 20 3 1
2024/25 20 1 1
Jack Grealish record in Premier League for Manchester City. (Source: Transfermarkt)
In fact, last season was the second campaign running where Grealish returned just one Premier League assist, as he suffered from a lack of consistency and sporadic games.
Jack Grealish has everything he needs to make England World Cup squad
At Everton, Jack Grealish should have everything he needs to be the star man again, rather than one of many world-class players in Manchester City’s system.
He should be able to play regularly, without the extra workload of Champions League football, which might not have helped his fitness and injury struggles.
Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium should be the perfect arena for Grealish to be a leading man once more.
England v Finland - UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League B Group B2
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Grealish was always played on the left wing at Manchester City, only operating centrally in 15 of his 157 appearances under Pep Guardiola.
He thrived as a number ten at Aston Villa, so could Everton allow him to rediscover that freedom in the middle?
If everything comes together and Grealish stays fit, there is no reason he shouldn’t improve on his poor goals and assists record and contest an England place again for next summer’s World Cup.