Jack Grealish thought this season was finally going to be the one that changed everything. After years of pressure, criticism, injuries, and doubts, he believed he was slowly finding his way back. A fresh start away from Manchester City, regular football, trust from a manager who believes in him, and a chance to play with freedom again. Everton gave him that chance. David Moyes gave him that trust. And Grealish was repaying it, quietly but steadily, rebuilding his career step by step. Now, in one cruel moment, it all feels like it has been ripped away.
David Moyes has confirmed that Jack Grealish has suffered a broken foot, described as a stress fracture, and the Everton manager did not hide his disappointment. He called it a “big blow,” and that phrase barely scratches the surface. This injury could rule Grealish out for the rest of the season. It could also destroy his hopes of making the World Cup. For a player who has fought so hard to get back into the England picture, the timing could not be worse.
Grealish is 30 years old now. This is not a young player with endless time on his side. Every season matters. Every international window matters. Every chance to impress matters. This Everton loan was not just about club football. It was about saving his international career. It was about reminding everyone what kind of player he can be when he is trusted and given responsibility.
The injury happened in the most painful way possible. Grealish picked it up against his former club, Aston Villa, the team that raised him, the club where he became a star, the place that shaped his identity as a footballer. Everton won the game 1-0 at Villa Park, and Grealish played the full 90 minutes. He did not limp off. He did not complain. He pushed through the pain, driven by adrenaline, pride, and professionalism.
At the time, nobody knew how serious it was. It was only after the match, after the swelling and discomfort refused to go away, that concerns started to grow. On Monday, Grealish was sent to a specialist. talkSPORT then revealed the devastating news. A stress fracture in his foot. One of the most difficult injuries to manage. Slow healing. High risk of complications. And no clear return date.
David Moyes faced the media and spoke with honesty. He admitted he did not yet know how long Grealish would be out. He said the doctors had not given a full timescale. But his tone said everything. This was serious. This was not a short-term knock. This was not a few weeks on the sidelines. This was something that could define the rest of Grealish’s season.
Moyes made it clear how important Grealish has been to Everton. Since arriving on loan from Manchester City, Grealish has been one of the team’s most influential players. Two goals. Six assists. Twenty Premier League appearances. But numbers only tell part of the story. His presence changed Everton’s attack. He carried the ball. He won fouls. He slowed the game when needed. He created space for others. He gave the fans something to believe in.
Everton have struggled in recent seasons. Survival battles. Points deductions. Financial pressure. Uncertainty everywhere. Grealish represented ambition. He represented hope. A statement that Everton still mattered. Losing him now feels like the air has been taken out of the room.
Moyes admitted it openly. He said this injury is a big blow to the team. He said Grealish has played a huge part since the start of the season. He did not try to hide it behind clichés. He did not downplay it. He accepted the reality. Everton are worse without Jack Grealish.
This injury also creates serious problems behind the scenes. Everton’s loan agreement with Manchester City includes a £50 million option to buy. That clause was not just symbolic. If Grealish finished the season strongly, if Everton stayed up comfortably, if finances allowed, that deal could have become very real. Now everything is uncertain.
From Grealish’s point of view, the blow is even deeper. He has 39 England caps. He has played at major tournaments. He has been a key figure in the past. But he was left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for Euro 2024. That exclusion hurt him badly. It made him question his future. It forced him to look in the mirror.
When Lee Carsley took over as interim England coach, Grealish was brought back into the fold. It felt like a lifeline. It felt like trust. His last England appearance came in a 3-1 win over Finland in 2024. Thomas Tuchel, now in charge, later said the door remained open for Grealish. That sentence meant everything. It meant there was still hope.
This season was supposed to be Grealish’s response. A late push. A reminder. A message to Tuchel that he still belongs. Playing regularly for Everton gave him that platform. With the World Cup approaching, Grealish knew this might be his last realistic chance to secure a place. And now, all of that is hanging by a thread.
Stress fractures are not simple injuries. They require rest. They require patience. They require careful management. Rush back too early and you risk making it worse. At 30 years old, with his playing style based on balance, control, and sharp changes of direction, Grealish cannot afford mistakes.
Moyes admitted Everton are now forced to rethink their January plans. He said Grealish’s injury will “add to their thinking” in the transfer window. That is manager-speak for panic. Everton may now need to sign a winger. But Moyes was realistic. Thinking about signings is easy. Getting deals done is another story, especially for a club under financial pressure.
On paper, there is some positive news for Everton. James Garner has signed a long-term contract. Jarrad Branthwaite, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Carlos Alcaraz have returned to training. Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are back after winning AFCON with Senegal. But none of that fully replaces Grealish.
Michael Keane remains suspended. Squad depth is still an issue. And Grealish’s absence leaves a creative hole that cannot be easily filled. Everton fans know this. They had started to reconnect with Grealish. They saw the old spark returning. They saw a player enjoying his football again.
Moyes was also asked whether Grealish’s injury would affect Everton’s chances of signing him permanently in the summer. He shut that down quickly. He said they are not thinking about that right now. The focus is on Jack as a person, not as an asset. That response says a lot. Behind the business, there is genuine concern for the player.
Grealish’s career has been a story of highs and lows. From the streets of Birmingham to becoming Aston Villa’s captain. From a British record transfer to Manchester City to struggling for consistency. From Champions League glory to being left out of major tournaments. This injury feels like another cruel chapter.
At Manchester City, Grealish never fully became the star many expected. He won trophies, yes. But he was often criticised for not matching his price tag. At Everton, expectations were different. He did not need to be perfect. He just needed to be himself. And for a while, he was.
Now he faces weeks, maybe months, of uncertainty. Rehabilitation. Watching from the sidelines. Seeing others take his place. Wondering if England will move on without him. Wondering if this was his last real chance.
Football can be unforgiving. Timing matters. One injury can change everything. For Jack Grealish, this injury feels like a hammer blow not just to his foot, but to his future. David Moyes said it best. It is a big blow. For Everton. For England. And most of all, for a player who was finally starting to believe again.
All Grealish can do now is recover. Heal properly. Stay strong mentally. And hope that football gives him one more chance. Because if this really is the end of his World Cup dream, it will be one of the cruelest twists in an already complicated career.
For now, Everton move forward without him. England wait and watch. And Jack Grealish faces another long, lonely road, hoping that when he returns, the door has not closed forever.
