Premier League clubs Villa and Everton chase Grealish loan as Sunderland’s bid fails in final year at City this summer for a career lifeline

Aston Villa and Everton are both circling a loan move for Jack Grealish, with the 30‑year‑old’s final year at Manchester City up for grabs, after a Sunderland bid reported on Wednesday was denied by City sources. The winger, who featured twice this season in the Community Shield and Premier League opener, could secure a fresh start away from the Etihad.

Villa’s emotional pull

Villa’s interest is rooted in Grealish’s lifelong association with the club, having entered the Aston Villa academy at six and breaking into the first team as an 18‑year‑old in 2013. He became a regular from the 2014/15 season and helped the side reach the FA Cup final, earning two Player of the Season awards during his tenure.

Grealish remained loyal after Villa’s relegation from the top flight, finishing bottom of the league and spending three seasons in the Championship before the Villans secured promotion back to the Premier League. His commitment through that period reinforces the emotional link that could see him return on loan.

Everton’s recent loan stats

Everton’s pursuit is fueled by Grealish’s productive spell in the 2025/26 season, where he recorded four assists in his first three league matches. A stress‑fracture foot forced surgery, curtailing the loan after he amassed two goals and six assists across 22 appearances.

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Sunderland bid denied

City sources denied any official approach after Sunderland’s bid, reported on Wednesday, was turned down. Grealish joined City in 2021 but faces an uncertain future, Getty reports, and he is now in the final year of his contract, meaning a loan would effectively be his exit.

He has featured only twice this season for City, coming on in the second half of the Community Shield against Arsenal and in the Premier League opener versus Bournemouth. These limited minutes underline his peripheral role under the current management.

City allocated the No. 18 shirt to Grealish for the season, while the No. 10 now belongs to Rayan Cherki, indicating no immediate plan to reintegrate him into the starting lineup. The shirt reassignment signals the club’s readiness to move the player on.

A loan to either Villa or Everton would conclude Grealish’s six‑year spell at City, which began with a £100 million transfer in 2021 and included a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble in 2022/23. With 39 England caps and four international goals, the move would mark a new chapter after a decorated but unsettled tenure.