Jack Grealish has revealed why he has made the move from Manchester City to Everton after the club confirmed they had signed the star on a season-long loan.
Grealish has joined the Toffees for the upcoming season and Everton have a £50million option to make the move permanent next season.
The England international had fallen out of favour under City boss Pep Guardiola and will now look to resurrect his career at Everton.
Daily Mail Sport revealed on Monday how Grealish, 29, had made financial sacrifices to push through the loan switch.
Grealish, who earns around £300,000 a week plus sponsorships at City, has, according to Everton sources, gone ‘above and beyond’ to make the deal happen.
In his first words since joining Everton, Grealish said: ‘I’m over the moon to have signed for Everton – It’s massive for me, honestly. This is a great club, with great fans.
Jack Grealish has completed his season-long loan move from Man City to Everton
Grealish has revealed why he made the switch after the Toffees confirmed the deal on Tuesday
The England international’s loan deal includes a £50million option to buy next summer
‘As soon as I spoke to the manager, I knew there was only one place that I wanted to go. On social media, I’ve been flooded with messages from Everton supporters, so there’s that side of it as well and that’s another reason why I chose Everton.
‘I want to say thank you to the fans for all of the messages I’ve had already. Thank you for all of the love and support. I hope I can repay you now and I’m sure I will.’
Grealish will wear the No 18 shirt at Everton. ‘There is a reason for [choosing number 18],’ he explained. ‘There were other numbers but my two favourite English players ever are Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne and I know they both wore number 18 here.
‘So, as soon as I knew this deal was close, I had a look and number 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 [Rooney] before I came here and I mentioned that to him – about the number 18 – so I hope he’s happy as well!’
Grealish underwent his Everton medical on Monday, ahead of signing on Tuesday, eager to put himself in contention to face Leeds United in the club’s Premier League season opener next week.
After spending the majority of last season on the periphery of Pep Guardiola’s first team, making only seven league starts, the 29-year-old has been convinced by manager David Moyes that Everton can provide him with the platform to rekindle his form of old and stake a claim for Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad.
The move across the North West also means Grealish does not have to uproot his young family.
Moyes said: ‘We welcome Jack to Everton, and we’re very pleased to have him on board.
‘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.
‘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.
‘We’re all looking forward to working with him and providing a platform for him to show the best version of himself.’
The £100m signing from Aston Villa, who has had several offers to leave City this summer, was left ‘heartbroken’ when he missed out on the England squad for the 2024 European Championship after losing his regular place under Guardiola.
