'Do it more undercover!' - Jack Grealish told to avoid partying 'at the wrong times' and 'socialising comes second' amid Everton resurgence

Grealish became the most expensive player in British football when leaving boyhood club Aston Villa for Manchester City in 2021. That deal was worth £100 million ($134m), meaning that he was always going to be under pressure to deliver at the Etihad Stadium. Three Premier League titles were captured with City, while forming part of a historic Treble triumph in 2023.

Questions were, however, asked of Grealish’s output throughout his time working under Pep Guardiola. Just 17 goals were recorded for City through 157 appearances in all competitions. He eventually began to slip down the pecking order and towards the exits - with a loan deal being struck with Everton in the summer of 2025.

A flurry of assists have been recorded for the Toffees, with David Moyes giving Grealish the freedom to express himself once more. He was named Premier League Player of the Month for August and appears to be fully focused on his football again. He has faced accusations of becoming distracted in the not too distant past, with members of the public happy to share images and videos of him enjoying nights out.

If Grealish can strike the right balance between work and play, then he should become a key figure for Everton and force his way back into the England fold. He is one of those clinging to a World Cup dream ahead of FIFA’s flagship event heading to the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

Ex-Liverpool, West Ham and Chelsea defender Johnson, who earned 54 caps for the Three Lions, has told 10bet of what Grealish needs to do from here: "I like what I’m hearing from Jack. I think he knows that his personality is what got him to where he was at Aston Villa and Manchester City. And yes, of course, he likes to go out and sometimes you can get away with it. But sometimes, you need to hide it a bit, keep it lowkey. He doesn’t need to pretend or change his character. He needs some of that, because he needs that flair on the pitch. It’s who he is.

"If he is staying professional, and he’s not partying at the wrong times, then he can live his life. He’s a sociable, young lad, but ultimately he needs to make sure he’s living in a way that keeps him at his very best on the pitch. He needs to do his job and the socialising needs to come second, which is probably what he's owning up to now. But like I say, you don't want to take that away from him because that's his character. But yes, you do need to rein it in a little bit and maybe do it more undercover, and at the right times."

Grealish is a more mature performer and person now. He is 30 years of age and became a father in September 2024 when long-time partner Sasha Attwood gave birth to daughter Mila Rose. The demands of parenthood should help to slow Grealish down away from the field.

He does, however, still have work to do when it comes to earning an England recall. He has not represented the Three Lions for 12 months, as he wanders around in the international wilderness, with Thomas Tuchel yet to be won over. The Three Lions’ German tactician is adamant, though, that he has no issue with the Everton loanee. Tuchel has said: "There is no problem also between me and Phil Foden, between me and Jack Grealish. Special players back to influencing games. Jack is very close to being back to the best version of himself - very special player, very special character. There is no problem. There is no personal problem." That is leaving the door open for Grealish to earn a spot in England’s plans for next summer's World Cup.