David Moyes is expressing confidence that Jack Grealish's hunger to revive his career can inject a new sense of excitement into Everton. The 29-year-old midfielder recently joined the Toffees on a season-long loan from Manchester City, a move finalized after Grealish completed his medical. The deal includes an option for Everton to buy Grealish for £50m.
Grealish's move to Everton comes after a period of limited appearances for Manchester City, where he started only seven league games last season. He was also excluded from City's squad for the Club World Cup and Gareth Southgate's England squad for the European Championship last summer.
Moyes believes Everton can provide the platform Grealish needs to rediscover his best form and potentially earn an England recall before the World Cup. "I think we're getting him at a good time because he's experienced, he understands the Premier League, and we're all fully aware of the levels he's capable of performing to," Moyes said. "I know Jack's ambition is to get back into the England squad so hopefully we can help him achieve that over the course of the season".
Moyes is confident that Grealish can recapture the form that prompted his £100 million move to the Etihad Stadium in 2021. He noted Grealish's determination to prove himself, a quality that convinced Moyes he could bring excitement back to Everton. "The knowledge that he thinks he's got a little bit to prove and to stand up," Moyes said, explaining what convinced him to sign Grealish. "I've had to do that myself. I've had to come back from being knocked down. Sometimes you have to have that resilience to bounce back, to fight back and to show everybody. I just sense Jack is carrying that with him now. I hope it shows through this season because, if it does, then we'll get a lot of good things from Jack".
Grealish had several offers to leave Manchester City this summer, including from Napoli, but chose Everton after being convinced by Moyes. "As soon as I spoke to the manager, I knew there was only one place that I wanted to go," Grealish said. He also expressed his excitement about joining a "great club, with great fans" and his gratitude for the messages of support he had already received from Everton supporters.
Moyes also sees potential for Grealish to follow a similar path to Jesse Lingard, whom he coached at West Ham in 2021. Lingard revitalized his career under Moyes, earning a recall to the England squad. Moyes aims to position Grealish creatively to maximize his goal-scoring and assisting capabilities and is eager to see how Grealish tackles this challenge.
Grealish is "looking fabulous, in great shape" and is in contention to play in Everton's Premier League opener against Leeds on Monday. He has chosen to wear the No. 18 shirt, paying homage to his two heroes, Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne, who both wore the number for Everton. "My two favourite English players ever are Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne and I know they both wore No 18 here," Grealish said. "So, as soon as I knew this deal was close, I had a look and No 18 was free, so that was perfect for me and it was the only number I was going to take from that point. I spoke to Wayne before I came here and I mentioned that to him – about the No 18 – so I hope he's happy as well".
Moyes believes the addition of Grealish signals Everton's ambitions clearly. "It is a big thing for me," Moyes said. "The club have done brilliantly to build a new stadium. I think now there has to be a building of a football club back inside it, to get it back to where it was and more importantly to get the team back to where it was".
