Everton
Grealish’s City legacy points to a costly deal that may end without a fee
Grealish’s next move could be a free transfer after another Everton loan and City contract expiry.
Jack Grealish is set to spend another season on loan at Everton, with Manchester City likely to reach the point where his contract expires and he can move on a free transfer next summer.
When this loan finishes in June, his deal at the Etihad Stadium will also be at an end. That leaves Everton, or another interested club, in a position to sign him permanently without paying a transfer fee.
City made Grealish their first nine-figure signing in 2021 after activating the release clause in his Aston Villa contract. That outlay has not delivered a return in financial terms, even if the winger contributed heavily to one of the club’s greatest eras. He made 159 appearances for City, including two this season after coming back from his first Everton spell, and was part of the 2022-23 Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble campaign.
The picture changed in the seasons that followed. Injuries and a drop in form affected Grealish across the next two years, while Jérémy Doku rose in influence. Pep Guardiola said he hoped the player, who turns 31 next week, would find himself again and bounce back, but that revival never arrived while he remained in Manchester. That opened the door to his 12-month move to Everton last summer.
The first spell on Merseyside gave Grealish exactly what he seemed to need. He began last season sharply, producing four assists in his first three appearances and winning Premier League Player of the Month for August, the first monthly award of his career.
However, a foot injury in January brought that momentum to a halt. It also ended his season early and removed any realistic chance of forcing his way back into the England picture in time for the 2026 World Cup.
Arsenal
Gameweek 10 Premier League predictions as Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea headline
Arsenal, United and Chelsea lead a tight Gameweek 10 set of Premier League predictions.
Gameweek 10 arrives with another international break looming, and Sunday’s late meeting between Manchester United and Aston Villa stands out as the pick of the round. Arsenal are back at Emirates Stadium after a fortnight away, while Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur all face testing trips on the road.
Everton vs Coventry may not light up the weekend, but it still carries weight for both sides. Everton are aiming to move above Liverpool, even if only briefly, while Coventry arrive in decent form and have won three of their last five Premier League matches. A first meeting between the clubs in nearly 26 years adds an extra layer.
Tottenham’s recent surge is harder to ignore. Three straight wins, including their result at Stamford Bridge, have changed the mood around them, and their attacking play is beginning to settle. Leeds, though, are unbeaten in four home matches and may be well placed to frustrate them.
Arsenal look well equipped to handle Hull, who have already caused problems for Man Utd and Chelsea on their return to the division. The champions are again top of the table and appear to have steadied themselves after their Carabao Cup disappointment and recent Europa and league successes.
Fulham and Newcastle both come into their meeting under new managers and both have obvious issues to solve, particularly in attack and in recent form. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, face a difficult evening against a City side seeking a response after back-to-back defeats.
Brighton’s consistency continues to impress after their win at Man City, and Brentford’s draw-heavy record makes them awkward opposition. Liverpool also need a lift after successive defeats, but Crystal Palace’s struggles suggest the visitors should edge it.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth’s strong run points towards another victory at Ipswich, while Chelsea should have enough to beat Sunderland despite the hosts’ historical success in this fixture. The round closes with Manchester United and Aston Villa, where a draw would do little to ease the pressure on the Red Devils.
Everton
Grealish’s Everton situation remains unresolved as Moyes keeps door open
Moyes says Grealish has a future, but Everton’s winger remains unavailable and under scrutiny.
David Moyes says Jack Grealish still has a future at Everton, but the winger remains out of action and his situation is still unclear.
Grealish, who is on loan from Manchester City, first missed the defeat to Arsenal because of illness. Everton then made the reason for his absence against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup on Oct. 29 public, describing it as a “breach of club discipline.” There was no formal explanation beyond that, although reports pointed to an unauthorized training absence.
He was also absent when Everton faced Newcastle again in the Premier League on Monday. In the build-up, The Athletic reported that the England international was “not fit” after spending the previous two weeks on the sidelines.
After the final whistle at St James’ Park, Moyes declined to offer any further detail. “He’s unavailable at the moment and we will make a decision with the club when we think that availability comes back,” the Scot told BBC Sport.
“All I’m giving out is that he is unavailable at the moment.”
When pressed on whether disciplinary action was still in place, Moyes added: “No, I can’t comment on that.”
Everton return to action on Friday night against Coventry City at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but Grealish’s involvement is still unknown. Moyes insists there is still a route back for him during the final six months of the season, although his influence has been notably smaller than in his earlier loan spell.
Grealish had already drifted from his Manchester City role after being part of the 2022–23 treble campaign, but he began the 2025–26 season strongly with Everton. He won August 2025’s Premier League Player of the Month award before a mid-season injury halted his progress and also ended any chance of an England recall ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
His return to Everton at the end of the summer transfer window has been far less productive. He had to wait for a start, and by his sixth and most recent outing he had still not scored or assisted for the club.
That leaves Grealish at a clear turning point. He turned 31 in September and is now effectively fighting for his next contract, with City’s loan decision this season pointing towards a likely exit into free agency next summer.
Arsenal
Gameweek 9 verdicts: Chelsea edge United, Arsenal stun Liverpool
A full set of Gameweek 9 predictions, including Chelsea vs Man Utd and Liverpool vs Arsenal.
Gameweek 9 brings a stacked Premier League schedule, with several meetings that carry clear weight in the early-season picture. The most eye-catching fixtures are Chelsea against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool’s home clash with Arsenal, while there are also plenty of tight contests elsewhere across the division.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are tipped to come through 2-1 against a Manchester United side under pressure after back-to-back three-goal defeats to Como and Bournemouth. Michael Carrick remains in charge for the trip to west London after talks with Bruno Fernandes and the rest of the squad, but this feels like a critical test. Chelsea have their own issues, yet home advantage and the absence of João Pedro could still matter in a narrow contest.
Bournemouth’s strong run is expected to continue with a 2-1 win over Leeds United. The Cherries have produced a striking sequence of results across multiple competitions, and with Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson supported by Eli Junior Kroupi’s return, they look well placed to extend that momentum.
Other calls point to draws for Brentford against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United against Everton, while Coventry and Sunderland are forecast to cancel each other out. Hull are backed to edge Ipswich 1-0, and Manchester City are favoured to beat Brighton 3-2 in what could be the weekend’s most open game.
Tottenham are projected to keep improving with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, while Aston Villa are expected to defeat Fulham 3-0 after their recent uptick in form. The standout result, though, is at Anfield, where Arsenal are predicted to win 2-1 after Liverpool’s recent consistency meets a team looking to respond after a cup setback. The final matchup, Newcastle versus Everton, is also forecast to finish level.
