PREMIER LEAGUE RULES DECIDE IF JACK GREALISH CAN PLAY MAN CITY
Jack Grealish is thriving on loan at Everton but is ineligible to face his parent club, Man City, due to Premier League loan rules. The winger has 1 goal & 4 assists this season.
As of right now, Jack Grealish's transfer to Everton has been a huge success, and the England international is finally playing in the first team again.
Under Pep Guardiola, the 30-year-old's career at Man City had started to stall, and he had never really established himself as a regular starter.
Grealish appears to be back to his best after securing a change of scenery. He opened the 2025–26 Premier League season at the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium with a goal and four assists.
But because of the English football regulations that prohibit the loanee from playing this weekend, the Toffees will need to find alternative solutions as they get ready to play Grealish's "parent club" at the Etihad Stadium on October 18.
Is Jack Grealish able to play for Everton against Manchester City?
Jack Grealish will not be eligible to play in either of Everton's domestic games against Man City, including the away game on October 18 and the home game on May 2, 2026, because of the limitations imposed on his loan.
According to Premier League regulations, players who are loaned to domestic teams are not permitted to play against their parent club in league or cup competitions.
However, this regulation is unique to English football and is not commonly used. Grealish would therefore have been available to play if these two clubs had ever met in a European competition.
Why are loan players unable to play for their parent team?
For a long time, the Premier League has prohibited players who are on loan from playing for their parent club.
This is to avoid the awkward scenario when players who are contracted to a specific club negatively impact their competitive endeavours while on loan.
However, in other parts of Europe and the world, this is not typically the case. In contrast to England, most leagues let each loan's talks and contract determine this restriction. Therefore, for such a restriction to be effective, it needs to be included in each specific loan agreement.
This type of restriction is frowned upon in many nations, including Spain. It is common to refer to a provision in a player's loan agreement that prohibits them from playing against their parent club as a "fear clause." The prevailing belief is that if a player is sent abroad because they are surplus to needs, the parent club should not be concerned about them getting wounded on the pitch; otherwise, they should not have sent them out in the first place.
Jack Grealish's Everton loan agreement
For the 2025–2026 season, Jack Grealish moved on loan to Everton as his career at Manchester City stagnated.
To boost his profile and position himself to play for England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 30-year-old joined the Toffees with the hopes of playing more minutes.
Numerous reports state that Everton will cover seventy-five per cent of Grealish's annual salary under the terms of the transaction, which came at a cost of roughly £12 million (€13.8 million or $16.1 million).
According to the sources, Everton has a £50 million (€57.5 million or $66.9 million) buy option at the end of the current campaign. However, considering the player's age and Everton's present financial situation, it is extremely improbable that this amount will be activated.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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