Everton rocked by serious injury to Grealish
Jack Grealish looks to be facing many weeks on the sidelines after suffering what is reported to be a double stress fracture in his foot.
The 30-year-old winger, who is on loan with the Blues from Manchester City, complained of pain and swelling in his foot during a session at Finch Farm this afternoon and the initial diagnosis is that he has sustained at least one break.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Grealish will see a specialist to fully assess the injury but the fear is that a double fracture will likely keep him out of action for three months or more, dealing a blow to both his slim hopes of making England’s World Cup squad and Everton’s bid to qualify for Europe over the remaining 16 games of the season.
Grealish has been an important part of David Moyes’s side since arriving on loan last summer, scoring the winning goal against both Crystal Palace and Bournemouth and registering six assists.
His absence will leave Moyes with just three nominal attacking wide players in Iliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil and Tyler Dibling and that paucity of options could force the club into the transfer market before the 2nd February deadline.
The Blues’ transfer committee is already thought to be scouring the market for a natural right-back and a centre-forward, although Moyes has played down the likelihood that they will be able to land anyone during what has historically been a difficult window in which to find value.
The length of Grealish's absence could also have implications for his future at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Blues were said to be hopeful of renegotiating the purchase option they agreed with City last July as part of the loan arrangement.
A severe injury that rules him out for most of the rest of the season, combined with the fact that the player will be entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, would dramatically alter the context around the £50m fee initially agreed.
The news concerning Grealish is the latest injury to befall one of Everton's best players. Jarrad Branthwaite has yet to kick a ball in anger this season while joint-top goal scorer, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, has missed more than a month with a hamstring problem.
Branthwaite has now finally rejoined the first-team for full training, however, and there is hope that Dewsbury-Hall could be ready to return by the beginning of next month. Ndiaye, along with Idrissa Gueye, is due to return from Africa Cup of Nations duty where Senegal went all the way to lift the trophy for the second time in four years.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers21/01/2026 05:18:51
Man that sux if it’s true.
Sounds callous but you’d be tempted to cancel the loan if we can do so without financial
Penalty. Effectively he’s done for the season.
What a shame.
21/01/2026 06:28:24
It might now be a case of seeing how the squad would perform without him. Armstrong and Dibling are now going to get a lot more minutes. If they grow as two young players and provide enough creativity between them, then it may be a case of spending 50m elsewhere.
Both City and Chelsea have bloated squads. There are plenty of younger established players who may prove to be better value.
A cynical post I know but the one question mark hanging over Grealish was always going to be value for money we barely have to spend. We have between now and the end of the season to see how existing players, and the transfer committee, answer that question.
21/01/2026 06:34:27
We're nowhere near the relegation fight and Europe was always looking unlikely, but this is still a massive blow.
Grealish wasn't going to make the England squad (there is a wealth of talent in those 3 positions behind Kane), but watching such a top quality player in an Everton shirt has been a highlight for me this season. I'm gutted for him and us.
21/01/2026 06:35:16
Kieran #3
That in fact is the case.I felt that Grealish long term was always in doubt, it does not seem to fit with Everton's transfer policy.I wish Grealish well with his recovery and hopefully he gets good news from the Specialist. A injury like that at his career stage could affect his pace.
21/01/2026 07:13:21
Won't be long until those who were criticising him on the other site will be saying, "we'd have won if Grealish was playing".
This is devastating news as, despite his faults, it was a pleasure to see such a composed, natural footballer playing for us.
Good luck to him in his recovery.
21/01/2026 07:56:35
Real shame to hear this news. I can’t see him staying for the rest of the season as his remaining wages will cost us around £4m for perhaps 5 or 6 games.
I also doubt we’ll buy him unless we can negotiate a real cut in his price, £50m and a weekly wage north of £200k is a lot for someone who will be 31 early next season.
21/01/2026 10:22:50
Massive blow. Always has time on the ball and pulls other players into him creating so much space. Get well soon Jack.
21/01/2026 12:09:26
Out of adversity comes opportunity. If it was going to happen, best it happens in or just before a transfer window.
I’d love to see him play in an Everton shirt again, but that length of time out of the game at his stage in his career doesn’t bode well. We should be looking at young, pacey wingers out there - Harry Wilson is getting a lot of mentions, he’d really galvanise our front line.
21/01/2026 13:05:14
Great player, but this may be a blessing in disguise. 50 Mil for a 31 year old is not good business.
21/01/2026 16:03:17
Unless the doc says he's out for the season we're stuck with the wages I reckon. He'll probably be back for the last couple of games. Real shame, for once we get to watch a top player. But that's your lot.
21/01/2026 21:38:34
Reminds me of when James Rodriguez was crocked in that Goodison derby game. He and us never seemed to recover. We’re not supposed to have players we can enjoy watching, are we? Dewsbury-Hall was starting to look the real deal until the Chelsea game. Has Branthwaite kicked a ball this season?
That lot across the park will tell you they’re unlucky with injuries but our squad is paper thin.
The only silver lining is that it might force us to strengthen this month.
21/01/2026 23:34:12
It will be interesting. But Jack is an outlet, on the play. and holds, up the ball well.
I'd say some Everton players, don't read him.
But cohesion, with the ball in control,
J G., is very good in using the ball.Everton are a better team,?
Jack, the Slow, and
Time, will, tell.
Senegal,congrstulations, and at Everton, both of our Players, are welcome, back.
Congratzioni!🙂
22/01/2026 09:14:40
This should be the opening Dibling needs, let's hope he takes it. A good core of young Evertonians getting game time between now and the end of the season bodes well. Could be looking at Branthwaite, Rohl, Dibling and Armstrong all playing regularly and gaining confidence with an average age of 21.
When you look at that, keeping Garner is really important, broke through into the Everton 11, a good role model to them all and still just 24.
22/01/2026 18:52:49
Dibling may come good but on the evidence so far he is not good enough for a first team place.
Aznou showed far more in a short introduction and for me would be ahead of Dibling in the first 11 to play in the absence of JG.
On the other hand we have a number of other MF and tactical options that this situation has created with Rohl, Garner, Armstrong KDH (when fit again), Gana, Mcneil and Ndiaye.
3 at the back now Jarrad is fit with Aznou and Patto as wing backs.3-4-2-1 or 3-5-2.
Or 4-4-2 with Illy and Barry up front and a very physical MF 4.
25/01/2026 03:01:36
Is Jarrad that close to starting Jay? Agree about Aznou, though based on desperately little, and that might say something about Dibling up to now.
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21/01/2026 01:01:59
We never have any luck do we, just when things start to look on the up something like this happens.
He will be a huge miss, what he brings to the team is invaluable imo, a calm head who creates space and chances for others.
I wonder what it means in regard to us signing him permanently? For me it was a dead cert but now with this injury that outlook has changed slightly, we may send him back with his wages being so high.
With key players close to returning it would have been nice to see a full strength starting 11 with Jack but in typical Everton fashion we get hit with more bad news. It never ends.