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Everton CEO Angus Kinnear has revealed the Merseyside club have “remained in contact” with Jack Grealish, but conceded the winger’s immediate future rests with Manchester City. Grealish spent the entirety of the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Everton, showing flashes of his best form with two goals and six assists in 22 appearances before a foot injury in January brought his season to a premature end. The 30-year-old opted to complete his rehabilitation at the Hill Dickinson Stadium rather than return to his parent club, further deepening his bond with a set of supporters who had taken to the England international from the moment he arrived. Now back in east Manchester, Grealish featured in sky blue for the first time since his temporary exit when he was introduced at half-time of Sunday’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal in Cardiff - though his appearance did little to lift a disappointing afternoon for Enzo Maresca’s side. With just under a fortnight remaining until the summer transfer window shuts on September 1, the former Aston Villa man’s situation remains one of the more intriguing subplots of Manchester City’s window, and Everton have made no secret of their desire to keep the door open. Kinnear: "He’s fallen in love with the right shade of blue" Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio Merseyside, Everton CEO Angus Kinnear addressed the ongoing speculation over a potential return for Jack Grealish - but made it clear that the final decision must ultimately be made at the Etihad stadium. “Jack is a player we’ve remained in contact with,” the Everton chief executive officer said. “It was no secret that he decided to have his rehabilitation done here for the remainder of last season when he didn’t have to do that. “He’s a player who’s fallen in love with the right shade of blue but ultimately he’s a Manchester City player at the moment and we need to respect that." Kinnear continued, “The most important thing is he’s back. He had a very serious injury, he’s worked really hard to get back from that.” What has Enzo Maresca said about Jack Grealish? For all of Everton’s warmth towards the winger, the decision on his future rests with Enzo Maresca, and the Italian offered a cautiously encouraging assessment of the England international after Sunday’s defeat to the Gunners. “Jack was inside when we were 2-0 down so the game already became complicated after that, but overall I think Jack was good,” the Italian said. “The ones that are still here and want to work every day and if they deserve it, they’re going to get minutes. At the moment, the transfer window is open, and we’ll see what happens.” What next for Grealish and Manchester City? Jack Grealish arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Aston Villa in the summer of 2021 for a then-British record fee of £100 million, and has gone on to win three Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup across 158 appearances for the Blues, scoring 17 goals in the process. However, the Birmingham-born forward’s influence has waned over the past two seasons, and with his contract in east Manchester due to expire next summer, the coming fortnight represents a significant crossroads in his City career. Whether Enzo Maresca sanctions a departure or affords the 30-year-old the chance to force his way back into the fold, the decision rests firmly at the Etihad Stadium - but Kinnear’s latest comments confirm that Everton will be watching closely should the door swing open once more before the September 1 deadline.