Can the "£100 million man" turn his life around at Everton?

Written by Han Bing On August 5, four years ago, Grealish joined Manchester City for a transfer fee of £100 million, making him the first "£100 million man" in both Manchester City and the Premier League. As a dual record-holder, he was held in high regard. Yet, four years later, he is not on the list for the FA Cup final, marking the inevitability of his unfortunate destiny.

On August 12, Everton confirmed that Grealish has joined them on loan from Manchester City for a season.

Over the past four years, Grealish's market value plummeted from €65 million to €28 million. Fans have largely forgotten the "Super Jack" from Manchester City’s treble-winning season two years ago; the image of the partying superstar during their championship celebration is perhaps more memorable—on his way to the Ibiza airport for vacation, a drunken Grealish could only be supported by teammate Walker, mumbling, "I’m a turkey, turkeys need feeding." He asked his teammates for vodka, his clothes soaked in champagne poured by Haaland.

The memorable nature of this partying scene lies in the media and fans’ belief that it marked a turning point in Grealish's time at Manchester City. After three days of continuous partying, he struggled with alcohol and nightlife for the following two seasons. Moreover, the "£100 million man" faced persistent injuries, particularly a chronic groin issue that not only cost him his starting position but also his confidence.

In two seasons, Grealish started only six times, missing the cup final and being excluded from England’s squad for the 2024 European Championship.

Five months after losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup final, Guardiola revealed for the first time that his players were "somewhat tipsy." Before the FA Cup, Manchester City had secured their fourth consecutive Premier League title and celebrated all night, with Grealish being the most exuberant—at that time, City players partied with their partners until 5 AM. While fans could forgive Haaland for his contributions, they were very dissatisfied with Grealish, who had a lackluster season, taking the spotlight. Since then, his personal life and professional attitude have become a media focus.

In January of this year, Guardiola harshly criticized Grealish's poor performance, noting he had only started four Premier League matches, providing a meager one assist. Guardiola stated that Grealish needed to focus on himself to regain form. However, Grealish not only had a vibrant nightlife but also faced infidelity allegations in February. Just after his girlfriend Sasha Attwood gave birth to their child, Grealish was caught with a mysterious woman.

After Manchester City lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League, Grealish was again seen partying and clubbing with a former model, prompting England coach Tuchel to comment, "This is clearly not what I expect."

In April, The Sun reported that Grealish was the "life of the party" at Bagatelle restaurant, where he was filmed jumping up with arms wide open, mimicking Leonardo’s iconic pose from the Hollywood blockbuster "The Wolf of Wall Street," showcasing his indulgence in a lavish lifestyle. During a match against Crystal Palace, he came on as a substitute for three minutes and the next day attended a luxury party in London with a bar tab of £5,000. Just before leaving the team in May, De Bruyne hosted a farewell party, and Grealish was the last to leave...

Once known for his excellent dribbling, distinctive low-socks style, stylish hair, and smile, Grealish now retains only the latter three. Everyone must acknowledge that Grealish, with a transfer fee of £100 million, is the most unsuccessful signing in Manchester City’s history. However, it is not injuries that defeated him, but the heavy title of the "£100 million man" and the "wealth" of a £300,000 weekly salary. His loan to Everton represents Grealish's final chance for redemption in his career, as he still hopes to secure a ticket to next year’s World Cup.

To achieve this, Grealish has made significant sacrifices in terms of income. Initially, British media claimed that Everton would cover £250,000 of his £300,000 weekly salary, but in reality, Grealish’s salary is clearly lower than this figure. As for the media reports about a £50 million buyout clause for Grealish at the end of the season, that number is unrealistic, especially since he will turn 30 next year. Everton manager Moyes hopes to see the Grealish of two years ago in the new season, and the "£100 million man" hopes so too. But before that, he must stay away from the temptations of alcohol and nightlife.

Can the "£100 million man" turn his life around? The end of the season will provide the answer.