Everton seal Grealish loan 'coup' - but where will he play?

Jack Grealish says "there is only 1 spot he wanted to go" aft signing for Everton connected a season-long indebtedness from Manchester City.

The 29-year-old becomes Everton's sixth signing of nan summertime pursuing nan arrivals of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Charly Alcaraz, Thierno Barry, Mark Travers and Adam Aznou.

He says talks pinch Toffees head David Moyes were decisive successful him choosing to move to Hill Dickinson Stadium.

"I'm complete nan satellite to person signed for Everton - it's monolithic for me, honestly. This is simply a awesome club, pinch awesome fans," said nan England winger.

"As soon arsenic I said to nan manager, I knew location was only 1 spot that I wanted to go. On societal media, I've been flooded pinch messages from Everton supporters, truthful there's that broadside of it arsenic good and that's different logic why I chose Everton.

"I want to opportunity convey you to nan fans for each of nan messages I've had already. Thank you for each of nan emotion and support. I dream I tin repay you now and I'm judge I will."

Grealish is successful statement to make his Everton debut successful their Premier League opener astatine Leeds connected Monday.

The England playmaker joined City from Aston Villa for what was a British grounds interest of £100m successful August 2021 and has made much than 150 appearances for nan nine - winning 3 Premier League titles, nan Champions League and nan FA Cup.

But he fell retired of favour past season, making only 7 convention starts earlier being near retired of their squad for nan Club World Cup successful nan United States.

A move to Everton gives him nan chance to rejuvenate his profession and return centre shape astatine their caller stadium.

Grealish will besides beryllium aiming to triumph his spot backmost successful nan England squad - thing Moyes hopes Everton tin thief him execute - aft saying past summertime he was "heartbroken" by being near retired of nan squad for nan 2024 European Championship.

Everton leader Moyes said: "I deliberation we're getting him astatine a bully clip because he's experienced, he understands nan Premier League and we're each afloat alert of nan levels he's tin of performing to.

"We're each looking guardant to moving pinch him and providing a level for him to show nan champion type of himself."

Grealish will deterioration nan number 18 garment and says he chose that number truthful he could emulate 2 of his favourite players.

"There is simply a logic [for choosing number 18]," said Grealish. "There were different numbers but my 2 favourite English players ever are Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne and I cognize they some wore number 18 here.

"So, arsenic soon arsenic I knew this woody was close, I had a look and number 18 was free, truthful that was cleanable for maine and it was nan only number I was going to return from that point.

"I said to Wayne [Rooney] earlier I came present and I mentioned that to him - astir nan number 18 - truthful I dream he's happy arsenic well."

Matthew Hobbs, BBC Sport:

Jack Grealish's signature is simply a existent coup for David Moyes, but will nan 29-year-old beryllium much effective connected nan near aliases successful a cardinal domiciled for nan Toffees?

According to Opta, Moyes commonly employed a 4-2-3-1 statement successful nan Premier League aft returning to Goodison Park past season, doing truthful 11 times successful 19 matches and only really deviating erstwhile a backmost 3 was utilized instead.

Grealish has predominantly had a left-sided domiciled during his top-flight career, spending 80% of his 5,698 Premier League playing minutes connected nan near helping astatine Manchester City.

In nan apical formation astatine Aston Villa, he played connected nan near 64% of nan time, and 20% astatine number 10.

While Grealish is simply a connection signing judge to excite supporters, it does create an imbalance successful Everton's squad, pinch nan hunt for a right-winger truthful acold unsuccessful.

Iliman Ndiaye played 2,350 minutes connected nan near helping past word and vanished arsenic nan club's apical scorer, while Dwight McNeil has besides been a cardinal performer successful that role.

Should Grealish commencement connected nan near it whitethorn mean Ndiaye, McNeil and summertime signing Carlos Alcaraz competing for nan number 10 berth - aliases 1 playing retired of position until a earthy right-winger is recruited.

Moyes typically demands difficult activity disconnected nan ball, truthful if Grealish plays centrally successful a position operated by Abdoulaye Doucoure past season, he whitethorn beryllium required to do much defending than possibly suits his earthy game.