Everton secure Grealish loan, Zirkzee remains at United

Everton have re-signed Jack Grealish on a season-long loan from Manchester City, with the winger having previously spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Goodison Park. The Toffees missed out on Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, who will remain at Old Trafford. Everton also agreed a £3m deal for Ainsley Maitland-Niles and are hopeful of signing Folarin Balogun.

Grealish's previous Everton loan yielded two goals and six assists in 20 outings, earning him the Premier League Player of the Month award for August. He returned to action in City's Community Shield loss to Arsenal on 16 August and played in their 2-1 league win over Bournemouth. The Toffees' deadline-day striker pursuit shifted after Beto's permanent move to Fiorentina, with Tammy Abraham rejecting them for Aston Villa. A £40m fee for Monaco's Folarin Balogun was agreed, though a medical issue emerged before the 23:00 BST deadline. Everton also secured Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Lyon for £3m, while Nathan Patterson completed a permanent switch to Torino.