Heartbreak for Jack Grealish as Season Likely Over

David Moyes Confirms Everton Loanee Faces Surgery Blow That Could End England Hopeful’s Campaign

There are moments in a football season when momentum simply drains away, not because of form or tactics, but because fate intervenes. For Jack Grealish, that moment appears to have arrived far earlier than anyone at Everton or Manchester City would have hoped. What began as a revitalising loan spell on Merseyside has now turned into a story of frustration and uncertainty, with David Moyes confirming that Grealish’s season is likely over due to a serious foot injury that may require surgery.

The Everton boss delivered the news with visible regret, admitting that the England international is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his foot. While a final decision on surgery is still to be rubber-stamped, the signs are pointing towards an operation — and with it, the end of Grealish’s 2025–26 campaign.

For a player desperate to force his way back into England contention ahead of a major international summer, the timing could hardly be worse.

Loan Benefits: Grealish’s Everton Spell Started So Brightly

When Everton secured Jack Grealish on loan from Manchester City, there was genuine excitement around Goodison Park — and later, the Hill Dickinson Stadium. This was not just a marquee name arriving for headlines, but a player who immediately looked hungry, motivated and liberated after stepping away from Pep Guardiola’s rotation-heavy setup.

Grealish wasted no time making an impact. In his first two starts, he registered four assists, knitting Everton’s attack together with the kind of creativity and composure they had badly lacked. His influence was so immediate that he was named Premier League Player of the Month for August, an award he collected in the same week as his 30th birthday — a reminder that, while no longer a prospect, he remains firmly in his prime.

There were defining moments too. A stoppage-time winner against Crystal Palace sent the home crowd into raptures, while his decisive strike at Bournemouth delivered Everton’s first league win on the south coast. Grealish wasn’t just contributing — he was carrying responsibility, demanding the ball, and shaping matches.

In total, he featured in 19 games across competitions, becoming a central figure in Moyes’ plans. But football can be cruel. An appearance against former club Aston Villa on January 18 now looks set to be his last outing of the season.

Grealish Update: Surgery Decision All But Ends Season

FBL-ENG-PR-ASTON VILLA-EVERTON

Speaking ahead of Everton’s clash with Brighton, David Moyes provided a sobering update that confirmed the worst fears among supporters.

“We believe he’s probably going to need surgery,” Moyes told reporters.
“That’s still not absolutely confirmed, but it probably rules him out for the rest of the season, yes.”

The Scot did not attempt to dress it up. This was not a short-term setback, not something that could be managed week by week. A stress fracture, particularly in the foot, is notoriously difficult to rush — and the priority now is long-term health rather than short-term fixes.

“It’s really disappointing for the player, the club, for all of us here,” Moyes added.
“He’s such an important part and he’s a big character with big experience for us and we’ll miss him. He’s done a lot of really good things for us.”

Those words carried weight. Moyes is not a manager given to exaggeration, and his description of Grealish as a “big character” underlined just how influential the City loanee had become behind the scenes as well as on the pitch.

World Cup Dreams Suddenly in Doubt

Beyond Everton’s immediate concerns, there is a much bigger picture looming for Grealish. At 30, this season represented a vital opportunity to re-establish himself in the England setup after falling down the pecking order at Manchester City.

Regular football, rhythm, confidence — all the things that had returned during his Everton loan — are now on hold. A long rehabilitation process following surgery could stretch well into the summer, putting his World Cup hopes under serious threat.

England managers rarely gamble on players lacking match sharpness, and while Grealish’s pedigree is undeniable, time is not on his side. The next few months will be about recovery rather than resumes.

Everton’s Transfer Plans Clouded by Injury Setback

FBL-ENG-PR-ASTON VILLA-EVERTON

There had been quiet optimism around Goodison that Everton might look to make Grealish’s stay permanent. Reports suggested a £50 million purchase option was written into the loan agreement — a significant outlay, but one that felt justifiable given his influence and commercial pull.

When asked whether the injury had impacted those discussions, Moyes was deliberately cautious.

“Far too early,” he said bluntly.

That response spoke volumes. Everton are unlikely to rush into a decision while Grealish’s medical future remains uncertain. Much will depend on how he recovers, how he returns, and what Manchester City decide to do once he is fit again.

January Window: Everton Still Scanning the Market

While refusing to be drawn on Grealish’s long-term future, Moyes confirmed that Everton remain active in the transfer market as the deadline approaches — even if options are limited.

“I’d like to say we’re out there looking, which I think I’ve said in every press conference,” he explained.
“We’re out there looking. It’s not that we’re shying away from it. I would say it’s probably less than likely than likely.”

January, as Moyes knows better than most, is a seller’s market. Prices are inflated, options are limited, and desperation often leads to mistakes.

“You can find players in January, it’s not to say you can’t,” he added.
“But I think we’re seeing this window becoming quite a difficult one for a lot of teams.”

Everton Searching for an Attacking Spark Without Grealish

Losing Grealish is a heavy blow for a side already struggling for goals. Everton’s creativity in the final third has been inconsistent all season, and removing their most imaginative player only sharpens that issue.

There has been some encouragement from Thierno Barry, who has begun to find his feet after a slow start. The striker has scored four goals in his last six matches, having taken 17 games to open his account.

Yet Moyes is clear that improvement is still required.

“He has to keep progressing,” the Everton boss said.
“How he’s playing at the moment wouldn’t be enough to satisfy me. He’ll have to play much better, score more goals.”

It was classic Moyes — supportive, but demanding. Barry has delivered important moments, including goals against Aston Villa and Leeds, but consistency remains the challenge.

Young Blood: Harrison Armstrong Could Play a Role

One potential solution lies closer to home. Harrison Armstrong, just 19 years old, has been recalled from a loan spell at Preston to help cover the growing list of absentees.

Moyes has been impressed with the teenager’s composure and adaptability, though a final decision on his role is still pending.

“We won’t make a decision until certainly after Brighton,” Moyes explained.
“I’m in regular contact with Peter Ridsdale and Paul Heckingbottom at Preston — I’m on the phone to them every couple of days about it.”

Perhaps the most telling line came at the end.

“He’s not looked out of place in the Premier League. That’s the biggest compliment I could give Harrison.”

A Cruel Twist in a Promising Story

For Jack Grealish, this was supposed to be the chapter that reignited everything — joy, form, freedom. For Everton, it was a loan spell that felt transformative. Now, it ends in frustration, surgery rooms and slow rehabilitation rather than packed stadiums and big moments.

Football offers no guarantees. Momentum can disappear in an instant. And for Grealish, the heartbreak of this setback will sting deeply. What comes next will depend on patience, resilience and belief — qualities he has shown before, and will now need again more than ever.