Everton winger Jack Grealish is expected to miss the remainder of the season after sustaining a fractured foot, an injury that has cast serious doubt over his chances of featuring at this summer’s World Cup.
The 30-year-old, currently on loan from Manchester City, is likely to require surgery after suffering a stress fracture during Everton’s 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on 18 January. While the decision on surgery has not yet been fully confirmed, the outlook is bleak.
“We believe he’s probably going to need surgery,” Everton manager David Moyes said on Friday. “That’s not absolutely confirmed yet, but it likely rules him out for the rest of the season.
“It’s really disappointing for the player, the club and everyone here. He’s such an important figure for us — a big personality with huge experience. We’ll miss him. He’s contributed a lot.”
The setback comes at a particularly cruel moment for Grealish, whose resurgence at Everton had revived his international prospects. His last England appearance came against Finland in October 2024, but a run of strong performances had propelled him back into World Cup contention.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel even held discussions with Grealish following Everton’s draw at Manchester United in November, underlining his renewed relevance to the national setup.
However, the severity of the injury now makes it highly unlikely that Grealish will be fit in time for the World Cup, which begins on 11 June across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Before the injury, Grealish had been enjoying one of his most productive spells in recent seasons, registering two goals and six assists in 20 Premier League appearances. The form represented a sharp contrast to a difficult period at Manchester City, where he struggled for consistency and fell down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola.
When asked whether the injury could affect the possibility of Everton pursuing a permanent move for the former Aston Villa captain, Moyes played down any immediate speculation.
“It’s far too early to be talking about long-term plans,” he said.
For now, Everton face the challenge of reshaping their attacking options without one of their most influential players, while Grealish confronts a race against time to salvage his World Cup ambitions.
