Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has finalised his loan move to Everton ahead of the new Premier League season.
David Moyes has been desperately chasing new additions this summer as Everton move into the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s move from Chelsea last week was a step in the right direction, and Moyes has now raided another Premier League giant.
Jack Grealish has joined Everton on loan for the 2025-26 season, with the option to turn the deal permanent in 2026.
Grealish fell down the pecking order at Manchester City and is now looking to bounce back with his move to Merseyside.
Manchester City forward Jack Grealish warms up ahead of a match away at Everton, Goodison Park
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Jack Grealish on Wayne Rooney’s inspiration behind Everton shirt number
England’s first £100million player had the world at his feet upon joining City from Aston Villa back in the summer of 2021.
Grealish went through ups and downs at the Etihad Stadium, and many will argue whether his move was a success or a failure.
Just 12 Premier League goals in four seasons isn’t good enough for a £100million winger, but he did contribute heavily to three Premier League titles and a Champions League win.
Now an Everton player, Grealish is gearing up for a potential debut against Leeds United on Monday night and has already made one early decision.
Grealish has admitted on Everton’s official website that he has taken inspiration from Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne when selecting his new shirt number.
Grealish will wear number 18 at Everton, having seen both Rooney and Gascoigne wear that number with the Toffees.
The 29-year-old spoke to Rooney about the decision, and could wear the former Manchester United star’s old shirt number against Leeds.
“There is a reason for [choosing number 18],” said Grealish. “There were other numbers, but my two favourite English players ever are Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne, and I know they both wore number 18 here.
“So, as soon as I knew this deal was close, I had a look and number 18 was free, so that was perfect for me, and it was the only number I was going to take from that point.
“I spoke to Wayne [Rooney] before I came here and I mentioned that to him – about the number 18 – so I hope he’s happy as well!” he added.
Everton’s recent number 18s
Rooney and Gascoigne stand out for Grealish, but the number 18 has been through a mixed history in more recent times.
The most recent holder was Ashley Young, who racked up 63 Premier League appearances in two seasons before leaving this summer.
Niels Nkounkou held the shirt before Young, but the Frenchman is now in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt after failing to make an impact with the Toffees.
Morgan Schneiderlin and Gylfi Sigurdsson also wore 18 at Goodison Park, but only after Gareth Barry’s four-year stint in the shirt.
Barry played 131 Premier League games for Everton while wearing number 18, and made the same loan move as Grealish.
Barry’s move became permanent after a successful loan, and while Grealish hopes to make Rooney and Gascoigne proud, he may also look to follow in Barry’s footsteps by earning a permanent switch in 2026.