Grealish admits Moyes will call him 'a nightmare' as second Everton loan begins

Jack Grealish has rejoined Everton on loan for a second straight season, admitting that manager David Moyes will likely describe him as “a nightmare” — while insisting their close relationship is exactly what he needs to rediscover his best form.

The 30-year-old spent last season at Goodison Park, scoring twice and showing flashes of his quality before injury cut his campaign short. He returned to Manchester City over the summer, but it quickly became clear he had no future under new head coach Enzo Maresca, having already been marginalised by Pep Guardiola — the manager who paid £100 million to sign him.

With his City contract expiring next summer, Everton moved swiftly to bring him back to Merseyside, and Grealish was candid about what makes the arrangement work.

“I get on really well with him,” Grealish said of Moyes. “He’d probably tell you, sometimes he’d probably say: ‘Jack’s a nightmare,’ but we have this really good connection. When I get on really well with a manager, it makes you want to do more for them. It makes you want to give everything for them, play well and succeed for them.”

Grealish drew a direct line between his personal relationships with managers and his performances on the pitch, pointing to Tim Sherwood, Steve Bruce and Dean Smith as coaches under whom he produced his finest football — all three of whom he still speaks to regularly.

“When I look back to managers that I’ve played my best football under, I always had a special connection with them as well,” he said. “I feel like that with the manager here as well.”

The England international had attracted interest from several clubs before committing to Everton again, with former club Aston Villa and Championship side Sunderland among those linked. He made an immediate impact on his return, coming off the bench as Everton fought back from a goal down to draw 2-2 with Manchester United.

Everton’s summer window was a turbulent one. Winger Iliman Ndiaye departed for Manchester City in a £65 million deal, while the club fell short in their pursuit of a striker — coming close to a £40 million move for Monaco and United States international Folarin Balogun before the deal collapsed. A bid to re-sign Brazil forward Richarlison from Tottenham also came to nothing.

For Grealish, the priority is simpler: play regularly, perform well, and make a case for himself before his contract runs out.