Another Loan, Another Goodbye

Jack Grealish's Manchester City chapter is all but written. The 30-year-old is poised to rejoin Everton on a season-long loan, with a medical scheduled for Tuesday morning before he completes his return to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the remainder of the 2026/27 campaign.

The move, first reported by The Athletic's David Ornstein, brings a degree of closure to a saga that has rumbled on since Grealish's injury-hit spell on Merseyside was cut short in January. A foot stress fracture ended his season just as he had established himself as a Toffees fan favourite under David Moyes.

Grealish's preference was always another stint at Everton. Sunderland made a formal loan offer, and several other clubs registered an interest, but the former Aston Villa captain had his heart set on a return to the blue half of Merseyside.

From Treble Hero to Fringe Figure

It is a curious fate for a player who, in 2022/23, was central to City's treble triumph. Grealish scored vital goals against Arsenal and Liverpool, started every Champions League knockout tie, and played his part in that 1-0 final win over Inter in Istanbul.

Since then, though, he has drifted. Guardiola's pecking order shifted, and last summer Grealish opted for a fresh start under Moyes. The loan included an option for Everton to buy him for £50 million, but the financial reality of his wages — understood to be around £300,000 a week — and lingering fitness concerns appear to have steered the Toffees towards another temporary arrangement.

The winger's recent appearances for City have been sporadic at best. He managed 45 minutes in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal in Cardiff and came off the bench in the opening-day win over Bournemouth. Last week, he did not even travel to London for the 4-1 win at Crystal Palace as his exit became inevitable.

Having been left out of Thomas Tuchel's World Cup squad, Grealish spent the summer recuperating and missed City's pre-season tour of Hong Kong and South Korea. He returns to Everton with something to prove.

Next summer, he will be a free agent. Whether that means a permanent move to Goodison or a fresh challenge elsewhere, one thing is clear: the £100 million man's time at the Etihad is drawing to a close.