The loveable winger’s £100 million move from Aston Villa to City back in 2021 is hard to define. Was it a failure? Seventeen goals and 23 assists in his 157 games across all competitions would sure suggest so.
Or was it a success? Grealish’s influence appeared to be more off the pitch that on it. He’s what American sports commentators call a ‘glue guy’, keeping morale within the squad high and playing an unseen role that doubtless had a huge impact towards the three Premier Leagues, one Champions League, and plenty other trophies, he won along the way.
One thing that most people can agree on is that, after last season and just 715 Premier League minutes, Grealish was in desperate need of a new challenge, and Everton may well be the perfect move.
A big fish in a small(er) pond
Everton are a huge club, there is no doubt about that, but they’re not competing at the top end of the table like City are. Grealish was at his best at Aston Villa because he was their undisputed star man, under Guardiola, he was just another name.
Under David Moyes, although he has a lot of talent at his disposal, that old dynamic returns, with a little extra experience. Grealish now knows what it takes to win on the biggest stages in club football, a metric that can’t be judged by numbers.
Moyes knows the key to unlocking Grealish is given him that freedom to go and do what he does best, keep the ball close to his feet, beat a defender, and wriggle into space to either get a shot away or find a teammate.
The Merseyside club have had a remarkable resurgence under the Scotsman. They went from a relegation fight under Sean Dyche to 13th. If last season’s Premier League started in January, Everton would have ended up in ninth.
With the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who also struggled for minutes last season and Thierno Barry, who is new to the Premier League, Grealish can act as a focal point for those that need a little more guidance.
A Marquee signing for a brave new era
It may only be a loan with a £50 million option to buy, but Grealish is one of the biggest names in English football, especially over the past five years or so. Everton snapping him up, regardless of how the deal works, is a major statement of intent.
Everton fans have had it rough for a while now. Issues with the ownership, problems with PSR, and to add insult to injury, arch-rivals Liverpool were crowned as Premier League champions last season.
Now, things are starting to look up. Money has finally been spent on the playing squad, Moyes is back and has his lads playing, and, most importantly of all, their long-awaited move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium has happened.
Saying goodbye to Goodison Park was hard but it’s time to look to the future. Grealish, who has a point to prove after his disappointing spell at City, will be the club’s new Wayne Rooney/Paul Gascoigne figure, he has taken the famous number 18. From a purely marketing persepective, it's unlikely Everton could have got anyone better.
Verdict
This move really does feel like a win-win for everyone involved. City get a player who wasn’t going to get any minutes off their books, albeit temporarily, Grealish will get a chance to impress ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and Everton now have one of the most exciting attacking players in the league.
Grealish has everything in him to be a huge success at Everton.