Jack Grealish seals return to former club as late deal with Man City struck

Jack Grealish has rejoined Everton on another season-long loan from Manchester City

The England forward is returning to Merseyside after the two clubs reached an agreement that will see the Toffees cover 90 per cent of the player’s wages.

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Having completed his medical this morning, Everton confirmed Grealish’s arrival an hour before the end of the transfer window.

It brings an end to a summer of speculation over the 30-year-old’s future, who also had the option of making a return to boyhood club Aston Villa.

While the transfer is a loan, it effectively spells the end of Grealish’s City career as he’s in the final year of his Etihad Stadium contract.

After his loan move was confirmed, Grealish. shared his delight at returning to Everton.

He told the club’s official website: “It feels so good. I’m so happy.

“I think I’m at my best at everything in life, not just football, when I feel loved. That’s what the manager has given me, what my teammates have given me and especially what the fans have given me.

“Every time I see an Everton fan, it’s just pure love and the way they’ve welcomed me since that first game against Leeds, I’ll never forget that. It means a lot to me and hopefully I’ve made a few Everton fans happy.

“I had a perfect time here for the first six months, then I stayed around after I got injured. I’ve been watching all the Everton games in pre-season and since the season started.

“Now I feel ready to go. I’m ready to start training tomorrow and prepare for the games.”

The race for Grealish

talkSPORT reported last week that both Everton and Aston Villa – Grealish’s boyhood club where he broke through and ultimately caught the attention of Man City – were interested in a loan deal.

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City sources denied an official approach from Sunderland amid reports of an enquiry.

With Grealish out of contract at the end of the season, City would have preferred to sell him in order to avoid losing him on a free transfer next summer.

City boss Enzo Maresca previously suggested there could be a role for Grealish at the club, but he also didn’t rule out a departure for the 39-cap England international.

“He is here and it is my duty to coach Jack and to try to get the best,” he said after City’s win over Bournemouth in the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

“Then it is one more week to go [until the end of the transfer window] and we will see what happens. Not only with Jack but also other players.”

Everton move helped Grealish bounce back

Grealish left on loan for Everton last August in search of more playing time, having been left out of Pep Guardiola’s City’s squad for the Club World Cup.

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And he looked to be getting back towards his best for David Moyes‘ side, setting up two goals on his first start.

In September, he won the league’s Player of the Month award for the first time in his career.

However, a foot injury he picked up against Villa in January ended his campaign prematurely.

Grealish said he was ‘gutted’ to be ruled out for the remainder of the season amid form that, had it continued, might have seen him make England‘s World Cup squad.

Nonetheless, he finished with six Premier League assists and two goals to his name in 2025/26, a strong return all things considered.

Grealish’s City struggles

Grealish joined City from Villa for £100m in the summer of 2021, making him the most expensive British player ever at the time.

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He went on to make the best part of 100 appearances in all competitions across his first two seasons with Guardiola‘s men, winning back-to-back Premier League titles and helping City to the treble in 2022/23 – before another Premier League crown followed in 2023/24.

But he generally hasn’t hit the same heights for City as he did during his breakout years at Villa, and a move away could well be necessary to kickstart his career – as his time at Everton showed.