Despite being left out of England’s October squad by Thomas Tuchel, Jack Grealish has become the heartbeat of the Premier League 2025/26 with a stunning resurgence at Everton. Once written off at Manchester City, the midfielder is now a symbol of individuality, resilience, and creative freedom – qualities modern English football desperately needs.
Jack Grealish: England’s Rare Artist in a Mechanical Era
Thomas Tuchel may not need Jack Grealish right now, but soon enough, the England boss might have no choice but to call his name first when imagining a side capable of creative, unpredictable football. Because Grealish – quite literally – is the last of England’s true artists in an increasingly mechanical football world.
After joining Everton on loan from Manchester City during the summer transfer window, Grealish hasn’t just transformed the Merseyside club – he has saved himself. Under David Moyes, the 29-year-old has rediscovered his magic, winning the Premier League Player of the Month award for August and becoming the creative heartbeat of the Toffees’ attack.
From Doubt to Dominance
What’s remarkable is how fast it all happened. Within a few weeks, Grealish turned from a forgotten man into the player every Everton fan dreams of watching. He’s back to his Aston Villa days: free, expressive, and explosively individual – yet devastatingly effective. Every touch, every turn, every flick draws the crowd’s attention.
That’s why it was baffling to many when England’s October call-up list came out without his name. Fans flooded social media with outrage, especially after watching Grealish deliver another dazzling display in Everton’s 2–1 win over Crystal Palace on October 5.
Deep into stoppage time, Grealish scored the winner, ending Palace’s 19-match unbeaten run. But beyond the goal, it was the artistry that stood out. He didn’t just play; he performed. He didn’t just dribble; he danced with the ball.
Reviving the Forgotten “Number 10”
After seven matches, Grealish’s record of one goal and four assists may not sound earth-shattering, but every contribution has been decisive. At Manchester City, he was seen as redundant in Pep Guardiola’s hyper-systemized machine. At Everton, where Moyes encourages instinct and expression, he has rediscovered his soul.
Moyes once described him as “a true conductor – someone who plays with feeling and dictates rhythm through emotion.” Watching Grealish now, it’s easy to see why. He moves to his own tempo, holding the ball when everyone else rushes, turning when logic says pass. He’s the kind of player modern football has almost forgotten.
While today’s game prioritizes pace and pressing, few players dare to slow down and create. Grealish is one of those rare few – a player people either love or criticize, but never ignore.
At Everton, he’s thriving in the role of a classic “Number 10,” a position that has nearly vanished from English football. He receives the ball deep, shifts wide, and then cuts inward with purpose and unpredictability. His spontaneity keeps defenders guessing, his creativity fuels Everton’s rhythm.
Breaking the System
What makes Grealish truly “different” is his refusal to blend in. At Manchester City, Pep’s system demanded precision, geometry, and control. Every movement was calculated. At Everton, Grealish has been liberated. The shackles are off, and the result is pure expression.
As one pundit joked, “If Pep turns players into robots, Moyes teaches robots how to feel.” In that sense, Grealish has become Everton’s emotional core – the one who sets the tone of their attacking play. His triangles, feints, and space manipulations all start with his vision.
England’s Missed Opportunity
Grealish’s renaissance raises a difficult question: is England overlooking its most creative weapon? Thomas Tuchel values discipline and structure, but great teams – especially those chasing World Cup glory – need players capable of chaos.
While Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka are exceptional within their roles, Grealish brings something they don’t: unpredictability. He can disrupt patterns, create moments out of nothing, and bend the rhythm of a match to his will.
Few players dare to take on three defenders just to slip a pass between lines. Grealish does – and more often than not, he succeeds. His courage to improvise makes him irreplaceable, not just talented.
The Power of Belief
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Grealish’s story is how his teammates now believe in him again. Everton doesn’t just play through him; they play for him. Every touch feels like a promise of something beautiful about to happen.
It’s astonishing considering just months ago, he was dismissed as a failed £117 million signing. But what once looked like a burden now feels like proof of untapped genius – a reminder that talent sometimes needs freedom more than structure.
If he keeps this up, Tuchel will have no choice but to reconsider. There is no one else in the current England setup who brings that same spark, that same creative defiance. Grealish may not fit every system, but he’s the type of player who can change a match in 15 minutes – the kind every world-class manager secretly needs.
A Return to the Soul of Football
At 29, Grealish still has time to rewrite his legacy. Everton might be a temporary stop, but it’s where he’s rediscovered the essence of why he plays. Money and medals couldn’t give him that. Perhaps from the docks of Merseyside, a reborn Grealish will one day return to Etihad – or lead England into battle as its most creative spirit.
To call him “different” is, in fact, the highest compliment. Football needs players who defy the system, who bring color to a grayscale game. And Grealish, once doubted, now stands as proof that English football still has room for individuality, emotion, and artistry.
As Everton continue to rise and Tuchel searches for creativity, both may soon realize the same truth: no matter how modern football becomes, it will always need its outliers – its dreamers. It will always need someone like Jack Grealish.