Former Everton favourite Yakubu has been talking about his old club ahead of their Premier League opener at Leeds United
HALEWOOD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Jack Grealish poses for a photograph after signing for Everton FC at Finch Farm on August 11 2025 in Halewood, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC)
Jack Grealish could make his debut for Everton in tonight's Premier League opener at Leeds United
(Image: Tony McArdle/Everton FC))
Everton get their Premier League campaign up and running tonight (August 18) when they travel to what is sure to be a red-hot Elland Road for a showdown with newly promoted Leeds United (8pm kick-off). And there is one name Blues supporters will be desperate to see on the team-sheet.
Everton have made seven signings so far this summer but there is one that stands out as the most eye-catching and headline-grabbing - the arrival of the £100m Jack Grealish on a season-long loan from Manchester City.
Grealish is hoping to use his stay at Hill Dickinson Stadium to get his career back on track while Blues boss David Moyes wants the England international to act as a spark as the club attempts to push itself up the table after four straight seasons battling against the drop.
And Yakubu, the former Everton favourite, believes it is a transfer than can pay off. He said: “When you look at last season, Jack struggled for game time and with injuries. Coming to a club like Everton, he’s got a lot to prove.
“He’s got something to prove to the people, and to prove to himself, by showing that he can still produce with Everton.
“Coming to Everton is a great idea for him. He has a big, big season ahead, and if he can get it right, it'll be fine.
"It's like a win-win situation for him now. If he gets it right and plays well, he can get a call from the (England) national team. And with David Moyes there, he will always be pushing his players to give everything and show their best.
“It's up to him, but I believe he can do it. The fans will love him there. He just has to perform every weekend, and it'll be fine.”
The Blues have a new right winger at the top of their shopping list, after seeing three bids for Southampton's Tyler Dibling turned down, and are also interested in a right back.
But with Idrissa Gueye set to miss part of the season when he competes at the Africa Cup of Nations, alongside Iliman Ndiaye, Moyes is also eyeing midfield reinforcements and has been linked with Aston Villa captain John McGinn.
Villa have made it clear they have no intention of selling the Scotland international but Yakubu would love to see the deal come off. He said: “He's a hard-working, aggressive player and Moyes like players like that. He's also been playing as captain at Aston Villa, so he's going to be experienced.
“They (Everton) need leaders in the team, who you can push the young ones and make them better. If they can get it done, it's going to be a good signing."
Everton look set to play the first half of the campaign with Beto and new boy Thierno Barry as their starting options up front after Dominic Calvert-Lewin decided to leave at the end of his contract and eventually sign for this evening's opponents Leeds.
And Yakubu, speaking to Gambling.com, said of Moyes' forwards: “Beto works so hard. He runs the channel and it's like watching another new striker. I watched him play the weekend, and there's confidence there.
“We need to be patient with the new striker (Barry). It's not going to be easy because the Premier League is one of the best and toughest leagues in the world.
"When you come to England and the Premier League as a striker, it is hard, and you have to give everything. We have to be patient with him, but I think he can perform.
“Bringing Jack in and with Iliman there too... with these kinds of players, the strikers will get chances to score goals.
“They (Everton's strikers) have to score goals. When you don't score, people talk about it. They don't talk about how many channels you run. And when you don't score goals, the teams struggle.
“The defence looks solid. They're massive and really, really aggressive. So we just need players who can pass the ball off for the strikers to score goals. As a striker, to play good, you have to score goals.”
Yakubu knows all about that. He scored 21 goals in 39 appearances in his debut campaign with the Blues after he was signed by Moyes for a then club-record £11.25m from Middlesbrough.
Moyes returned to Everton in January and steered the club away from the bottom three before finishing 13th.
And Yakubu said: “I believe the club made the right decision to bring him back. I played under him for almost four years before he left, and now he’s returned after more than nine years away. It’s fantastic to see him back, especially with all his experience - he knows the club inside and out.
“You can see the difference he made last season. The team had been struggling with relegation, but when he came back, they started winning games back-to-back and regained their confidence.
“Now, they just need a few more players to really get the ball rolling. It’s going to be a long season, and with the new stadium and the fans behind them, they need to start picking up wins quickly - they can’t afford to be in another relegation battle.
“A new stadium can feel a bit like playing away at first - they’re not yet used to it - but I think they’ll adapt. Watching the boys, you can see the work David Moyes has been putting in with the new players.
“Jack Grealish has joined the team, and he’s the kind of player who really wants the ball and makes things happen. Moyes has tried to change the team and bring in more players that want the ball and want to play, like Grealish. Iliman Ndiaye, the number 10, is another exciting player - he’s technically gifted and loves to be on the ball. With players like that, I think they’ll be just fine.”
Yakubu was back on Merseyside earlier this month to play for Everton in their Legends match against Roma at the third and final test event of the club's magnificent new stadium on the Liverpool waterfront.
And the former Nigerian international said of Hill Dickinson Stadium: *"*The new stadium is unbelievable. I’ve played in Goodison Park and it was a great place with so much history, but moving from there to the new stadium is something special.
“We have amazing fans, and Everton is such a true family club, the People’s Club. It was great to be back, to see old friends, and to meet the fans again.
“Everything about the new stadium is there. When you look at some of the great modern grounds like the Emirates or the Etihad, this one is right up there. It’s new, modern, and world-class. I wish I’d had the chance to play in it back in my playing days.
“Goodison Park gave us incredible memories, but now there’s a new stadium. It’s a beautiful ground, and the atmosphere is going to be rocking.”