(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media, Imago)

Jack Grealish shirt number revealed at Everton as he follows two heroes in Merseyside

Alex is a lifelong Sunderland supporter who's been reporting on Mackem News since April 2025. Indeed, he started working for Breaking Media in April and has since graduated from St Mary's University as a NCTJ Gold Standard-accredited journalist, having completed his Master's degree in Sports Journalism. Alex previously worked for Football League World and has featured on the Roker Report, providing his opinion on all things Sunderland. While getting to the games is tricky, given his job, one of the highlights of his life was watching (and crying) as the Black Cats defeated Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium last season.

Published on:

12 Aug 2025, 3:25 am

Everton are set to complete one of the transfer deals of the summer, with Jack Grealish closing in on a move to Merseyside.

The Toffees were predicted to complete headline deals for their move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and the 29-year-old certainly falls into that category.

Grealish will join Everton on a season-long loan from Manchester City, which includes an option to make the transfer permanent for £50million next summer.

Now, the forward's shirt number has been revealed as he is set to follow in the footsteps of some English legends on Merseyside.

Manchester City star Jack Grealish glances into the distance. Everton

Grealish will soon be an Everton player (Credit: Imago)

Grealish given same shirt number as Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne

Gascoigne has already compared Grealish to himself as he prepares to move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Indeed, there are clear comparisons, given their style of play and off-field antics.

While the number eight shirt was available for Grealish to take at Everton, there is a reason behind the latest news.

The England international is in line to wear the number 18 shirt for the Toffees, according to Mike McGrath (12 August).

Club	Appearances	Goals	Assists
Aston Villa	213	32	43
Man City	157	17	23

Grealish's statistics with Villa and City

McGrath reports that Grealish's England heroes Gascoigne and Rooney also wore that shirt while they were at Goodison Park.

Furthermore, Grealish said he wanted to emulate both when he started his England career, with the loan to be completed.

Jack Grealish in line to wear the Everton No18 shirt of his England heroes Paul Gascoigne and Wayne Rooney when they played at Goodison Park. Grealish said he wanted to emulate both when he started #England career. Loan from #MCFC to be completed

1⃣8⃣🟦⚽️🥅 More @TeleFootball
— Mike McGrath (@mcgrathmike) August 12, 2025

Grealish paves way to cement legend status at Everton

Nobody can fault the 29-year-old's attitude, given the professionalism he has shown at Man City.

The Englishman is desperate to play first-team football and to receive a call-up to Thomas Tuchel's squad ahead of the World Cup next summer.

Now, with the forward set to don the same shirt number as Gascoigne and Rooney, he has set the wheels in motion to achieve greatness.

When Grealish was the main man at Aston Villa, he was irresistible, but under Pep Guardiola, he has been a mere piece of the puzzle.

Now, David Moyes can inject confidence into the England international and guide him to a return to his career-best form.

All eyes are on that sensational announcement to come.

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Jack Grealish