Jack Grealish has finally broken his silence after he departed from Man City in August after a hard season at the treble winners' side.

Normally listed as a starter in Pep’s squad, particularly in key matches, Grealish began losing his spot.

Leading to his starting in just seven matches out of 38 Premier League matches in the 2024/25 season, with two youngsters, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden, taking his spot with more energy and finishing.

Pep, during a media conference, addressed concerns raised about Grealish’s limited time, and he said,

“You have to fight with Savinho—the impact he has had this season is amazing. Jeremy Doku is incredible, a top player as well. Phil Foden can play on the left as well; that's the point. It's never against a player from my point of view. It's OK, accept the challenge, prove you are the best.”

He also added:

“I want much more… This is the level I would like to see from Jack. But it has not been like that”.While he never publicly addressed Jack’s dip in form to his off-field lifestyle, it is reported that Guardiola warned Grealish privately about his off-field activities, suggesting they could affect his form and future at the club, which subsequently did.

In an interview with SkySports, Tim Sherwood, the British player, admitted that his off-field activities were part of the decline in performance, but stressed that it was not entirely the case.

Living a more balanced life could have produced a different story, he said, but his timing was not always the best. And his off-field lifestyle, partying, and trips are to enjoy life to the fullest.

"People go, 'he likes to go out, he likes to party,' and I do. I want to be able to live my life and enjoy myself, but obviously, there's a time and a place to do that. Sometimes, I'll be honest with you, I probably haven't picked the right times. At City, I didn't help myself at times, I'll openly say that, but then I don't think it was all down to that, " Grealish said.

However, his main reason for leaving Etihad was that he wanted to feel loved again. He felt disconnected while at Man City, which in turn affected his effectiveness, as he is at his best when he feels loved.

"I'm at my best when I feel loved. You know, I'm quite vulnerable off the pitch, and I wanted to go somewhere to just feel the love again and just wake up with a smile on my face and want to play again," he added.

While at Man City, some pundits blame his slump in form on Pep, for trying to mould Grealish into a possession-heavy, disciplined winger, which clashed with his natural free-flowing style. Analysts noted he became a “shadow of his best self” as he was asked to prioritise ball retention over flair.

However, under the leadership of Moyes, Everton’s coach, Jack says the tactical freedom he’s found has reignited his spark.

"I don't mean this in an arrogant way, but I do like it when managers say, 'you're the footballer, go and do what you want to do.'

"Obviously, you have your jobs. You have your roles to do without the ball and set pieces, but he says to me, 'when you get the ball, just go and do what you want to do.'"

Grealish is next in action when Everton face West Ham in the Premier League at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.

Jack Grealish officially joined Everton on August 13, 2025, on a season-long loan from Manchester City at a reported fee of £15 million for the season. Since joining Everton, he has provided 4 assists in 5 league games, after which he won Man of the Match vs Brighton & Wolves, earning praises for his creativity and tempo control. He currently has an average rating of 7.48, the highest among Everton midfielders.

Jack Grealish joined Man City in 2021 in a £100m deal from Aston Villa, which was described as the most expensive in the history of football at the time. Jack Grealish spent a total of 19 years at Aston Villa, including his youth and senior career. He joined the club’s academy in 2002 at the age of six and remained there until 2021.

Grealish signed a six-year deal with Man City; however, before the expiry of the contract, he dipped in form, which led to his being sidelined and omitted from Pep Guardiola's squad for the FIFA Club World Cup after being told he would struggle for opportunities next season.

Before being axed for the Club World Cup, he was omitted from the matchday squad for the final game of the Premier League season against Fulham.

Grealish has been with the club for four seasons, from 2021 to 2025. During his stint at City, he scored 17 goals in 157 appearances across all competitions.

He played a significant role in Manchester City's success, including their treble-winning campaign in the 2022–23 season, and contributed to three consecutive Premier League titles.

Meanwhile, Everton was the first club to make a formal approach for Grealish, although there has been other interest from the Premier League and Europe since the transfer window opened.

According to reports, clubs from both the Premier League and Europe, including West Ham, Napoli, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, AC Milan, and Aston Villa.

Jack Grealish was reported to be training alone about a month ago despite his return to Manchester City.

In early June, he was omitted from the squad for the FIFA Club World Cup after being informed by the club that he could leave.

According to reports, his exit was by mutual agreement, signalling that a summer exit was being prepared.

Since then, Grealish has been training individually while awaiting a transfer, with interest from clubs like West Ham, Napoli, and Everton.

Despite interest from multiple clubs, he remains at the Etihad while a deal is explored.

According to sources, the club seeks a permanent sale, but it's reported that a more realistic option remains a loan spell, given Grealish’s wages and valuation.