JACK GREALISH has officially joined Everton from Manchester City.
Grealish, 29, has signed for the Toffees on a season-long loan with an option to buy the England star for £50million next summer – and he’s taken an iconic number to follow in his heroes’ footsteps.
AFPJack Grealish has signed for Everton on a season-long loan[/caption]
INSTAGRAM @jackgrealishThe England man has been keeping fit throughout the summer[/caption]
Grealish will wear the number 18 for his new club, emulating Paul Gascoigne and Wayne Rooney – who also bared the number on the back of their shirts for the Toffees.
Explaining his choice of number, Grealish said: “There is a reason for [choosing number 18].
“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!”
Last month Grealish reportedly agreed to train away from the rest of the Man City squad amid speculation around his future.
Pep Guardiola also chose to leave the former Aston Villa star out of City’s squad for the Club World Cup this summer.
That came after the winger made just seven starts in the Premier League last term.
Times Newspapers LtdWayne Rooney wore the number 18 during his first spell at Everton[/caption]
AlamyPaul Gascoigne also wore the number on his Everton shirt[/caption]
AlamyDavid Moyes has tipped Grealish to return to the England team under his guidance[/caption]
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However, Grealish’s Etihad hell has come to an end with Everton boss David Moyes now handing his career a lifeline on Merseyside.
Speaking on the move, 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.
“As soon as I spoke to the manager, I knew there was only one place that I wanted to go.”
New boss Moyes has tipped Grealish to return to the England squad under his guidance at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
He said: “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.”
PEP’S SQUAD TRIMMING
Pep Guardiola is refreshing his Man City team this season and Grealish is the latest casualty of the Spaniard’s preference to have a trimmed squad.
He also hates leaving players at home saying — half jokingly — that he would rather quit than have too many players to keep happy.
Speaking in Atlanta at the end of June, he said: “Right now we have too many players. We cannot go with 26, 27 players because there would be more not playing.
“Step by step maybe a few players are going to move.”
At that point, Guardiola actually had more than 30 outfield players and he added: “I would love to have the players that we have now all season.
“I would love it. I don’t have any complaints about the players, how they behave. The problem is they will be unhappy during the season.
“They will be sad, they will be disappointed. I don’t want that. For me it’s not a problem but I do it for them, so that’s why we have to see what happens.”
So, Pep has had to be ruthless which means it will be a busy three weeks ahead for City’s new sporting director Hugo Viana.
Grealish becomes the third member of Pep’s 2023 Treble-winning team to go this summer, following Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne out the door.
PAPep Guardiola is trimming his squad this summer[/caption]
And he will be quickly followed out of the door by England Under-21 skipper McAtee who has agreed a £30million switch to Nottingham Forest.
Guardiola is a big fan of the 22-year-old academy graduate but spent heavily bolstering his midfield with Nico Gonzalez, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders.
And, with just one year left on McAtee’s Etihad contract, another loan was not an option and City had no choice but to cash in.
Brazilian defender Vitor Reis, 19, has gone to Girona for the season, keeper Stefan Ortega is set to move back to Germany after City re-signed James Trafford from Burnley and a loan deal for 19-year-old Argentine whizkid Claudio Echeverri is being explored.
And even Savinho’s future at City could also now be in some doubt after Tottenham lodged a £43m bid.
The Brazilian winger, 21, is not one of those Pep is looking to sell and the bid would have to be considerably higher for any sale to be sanctioned.
But the Etihad chief has a wealth of options at his disposal on the flanks and Spurs’ interest has given City something to think about.
Guardiola could also replace Savinho with another Brazilian winger, following reports of interest in Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.
The exits of both Savinho and Grealish would leave a hole that Rodrygo could fill as City try and bounce back from last season’s disappointing campaign.
GettySavinho could become the next Man City star to leave, with Spurs interested in a deal[/caption]
GettyCity are reportedly keen on Rodrygo at Real Madrid[/caption]
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