Grealish apologises publicly after disciplinary breach costs him three Everton squad places

Jack Grealish has publicly apologised for the behaviour that led to him being excluded from Everton’s squad for three consecutive matches, posting a statement on Instagram as the club moves to reintegrate the winger.

The 29-year-old was absent for Everton’s 3-1 League Cup win over Newcastle United, their 1-0 Premier League victory over the same opponents, and their 3-1 Premier League win over Coventry City at Hill Dickinson — a run of absences that the club initially attributed to him not being “match fit.” Manager David Moyes publicly supported the decision to leave Grealish out across all three fixtures.

In a statement posted to his Instagram story, Grealish wrote: “Nice to be back out there with the boys today after a few good days training! I want to apologise to the fans and everyone at the club for not being able to help the team the last few weeks. I love playing for this club and I can’t wait to be back playing in front of you guys in an Everton shirt. See you all soon.”

Everton’s own communication on the matter was notably terse. When Grealish was omitted for the second successive match, the club issued a brief social media statement reading: “Jack Grealish is not match fit and therefore not part of tonight’s squad” — a form of words widely read as a diplomatic cover for a disciplinary matter rather than a physical one.

The club has since taken steps toward reconciliation, deploying Grealish in a behind-closed-doors friendly as a signal that his return to first-team contention is being managed carefully rather than ruled out entirely. The nature of the original disciplinary breach has not been officially disclosed by the club.