'Back to real business!' - Pep Guardiola thrilled with Jack Grealish's revival at Everton as Man City boss explains Etihad Stadium exit

Grealish became the most expensive player in British football when completing a £100 million ($134m) transfer from boyhood club Aston Villa to Premier League giants City in 2021. He helped the Blues to Treble glory in 2022-23 - adding a Champions League crown to the three top-fight titles that now figure on his impressive CV.

Guardiola’s system did, however, see Grealish’s creative qualities reined in at times, leading to him registering just 17 goals for City through 157 appearances. Once he began to slip out of favour, it became clear that a change of scenery was required.

Everton were happy to provide that in 2025, with an initial loan agreement including a £50m ($67m) purchase option. Grealish has posted four assists and a goal for the Toffees through seven Premier League appearances, with David Moyes delighted to have a proven performer on board.

Guardiola claims to be just as pleased for the 30-year-old forward, with City keeping a close eye on how their loan army are faring. Guardiola said: "Obviously he is there. The impact has been massive from day one. He got minutes and minutes and this is what he wanted. The decision we had with him, because he’s a lovely guy, but he’s back to real business and he’s playing every game."

Grealish will be prevented from figuring for Everton in their latest fixture, with a trip to the Etihad set to be taken in on Saturday. The terms of his loan agreement mean that he must sit that game out. Guardiola added: "They’re the rules. When I will be a CEO or president of a big institution in England maybe I will change it. If he played it would be nice but I don’t have any opinion."

While disappointed to be taking in an enforced break on the back of missing out on a place in the latest England squad, Grealish is pleased with the impact that he has made at Everton.

He said after opening his goal account with a dramatic 93rd-minute winner against Crystal Palace last time out: "To score the winner, which was my first goal for the club, was a brilliant feeling. The fans have been so good with me since I have come here. I have loved every minute of it. The training and the playing, and I love playing here, at the Hill Dickinson, so hopefully it can continue.

"I like to do stuff in my life and when I like to do that stuff, I love doing it, so football is one of them. I love playing football and when I am enjoying it the way I am, there is nothing better. Waking up and training every day. There comes a lot of pressure with it, but it is the best job for us, so when I enjoy it like this, there is no better feeling."

Grealish went on to say of trying to add more goals to his game: "I think everything else I have done really well since I have come here. I have created a lot of chances, I have got the most assists in the league. I feel like I do good stuff here, like keeping the ball, for example, in difficult situations when the defenders need a rest.

"The thing is with football, it is not all just about goals and assists. It is a big part, but there is a lot of other stuff that comes into football. I feel like I am really good at this stuff. Obviously I want to score more, but I feel like I bring so much to the team anyway."

Grealish will, fitness permitting, return to the Everton side when they play host to Tottenham on October 26. He already has one Player of the Month award this season, having starred across August, and will hope to end the 2025-26 with more collective and individual honours to his name.