Grealish's Everton gamble unravels after just six games

Jack Grealish was supposed to be the fresh start. A star winger on loan at Everton, given a second chance after fading at Manchester City, ready to become the face of David Moyes' rebuild. Then he missed Monday's training session and got dropped for the Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle, with the club publicly citing a breach of discipline.

It's a brutal turn for someone who, not that long ago, was trusted by Pep Guardiola to play the full 90 minutes in City's Champions League final win over Inter. Back then, in 2023, Grealish looked untouchable. Foden, Alvarez, Mahrez—all on the bench while he ran the game. That's the level of faith we're talking about.

But injuries and inconsistency eroded that trust faster than anyone expected. By the time City wanted him gone in summer 2025, Grealish had become a bit-part player, managing just 17 Premier League starts across two seasons. Everton took him on loan, then again this year, betting that a fresh environment might spark something. Six appearances in, and it's already falling apart.

The discipline issue—whatever exactly happened on that Monday—is the kind of thing that raises immediate red flags. It's not an injury, not a tactical choice, not form. It's about respect and showing up. And at a club trying to climb out of the doldrums, that's the exact vibe you can't afford. Moyes didn't get where he is by tolerating that sort of thing.

What makes it worse is the timing. Grealish didn't have months to bed in; he had weeks. Every appearance mattered. Every session counted. Missing training during a Carabao Cup week—when squad rotation means more players get minutes—isn't just a personal issue. It affects everyone around him.

Now his career sits in a weird spot. Too good to ignore, too unreliable to bank on. City clearly don't want him back. Everton are losing patience fast. And Grealish, once a kid who looked destined for greatness, has to figure out whether he's still hungry enough to fight for it. That starts with showing up to training.