Jack Grealish shares what he privately told Wayne Rooney before signing Everton deal
Jack Grealish has revealed the deatils of a conversation he had with Wayne Rooney before signing with Everton.
The Manchester City star has fallen badly out of favour at the Etihad Stadium, but he has finally sealed an exit, with the Toffees the beneficiaries.
Everton announced Grealish’s arrival on Tuesday afternoon, with the England international making the switch to Merseyside on season-long loan deal.
David Moyes and Co. have been chasing a marquee signing since the start of the summer, and they have finally secured a new figurehead for their project.
Grealish spoke to Rooney about taking the number 18 shirt
Grealish’s signing is not a deal that is likely to have come cheaply for Everton, but it is a clear sign of the direction that The Friedkin Group are hoping to take them in.
It is a major coup for the Toffees to have added a player with such a huge reputation to their ranks, and the hope will now be that Moyes can get him back to his best this term.
Grealish may have ended up around the fringes at Manchester City, but he will undoubtedly be a crucial part of the team on Merseyside.
- Grealish has 190 Premier League appearances to his name and over 50 goal contributions
- He notched 16 goal contributions from just 26 league outings for Villa in 2020/21
- He started just seven league games at Man City last season
The 29-year-old has opted to take the number 18 shirt for the upcoming campaign, and while it seems like an unusual choice on the face of it, there is a very specific meaning behind his selection.
“My favourite two English players ever are Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne and I know they both wore 18 here,” Grealish told Everton’s website after his arrival was announced.
“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!”
Grealish’s England aspirations should help Everton
Grealish’ arrival is unlikely to mark the end of Everton’s transfer business this summer but they surely won’t be able to top the potential that this deal has.
The attacker tore Premier League defences apart during his time with Aston Villa, and Moyes will be hoping that if he can give him the freedom to roam and create, that it could have devastating consequences for opposition backlines.
Grealish’s aspirations to make the cut for the England squad for the upcoming World Cup also play perfectly into the Toffees’ hands, as they should be getting a player who is firmly focused on his football and determined to prove that he can still be a difference-maker at the top-level.
Everton are about to move into a hugely exciting new era, and this could be the signing to help them realise their lofty ambitions.
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