Jack Grealish set to take iconic Everton shirt number to emulate England heroes

Jack Grealish is going to emulate two of his heroes when he puts on his new Everton shirt for the first time.

Grealish is on the brink of completing a season-long loan switch from Manchester City to the Toffees.

5 Grealish has already picked out his Everton kit number Credit: Getty

The 29-year-old has undergone a medical ahead of the move and he will join up with David Moyes' squad imminently.

He will hope that the move sparks his career back to life after struggling for regular minutes with Man City last season.

And what better motivation than to emulate two of your idols by taking their old number at Everton.

Grealish will wear the No.18 shirt at the brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium, according to the Telegraph.

It is the same number worn by English footballing icons Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne at the club.

In 2020, Grealish, who is often compared to Gascoigne for his playstyle and antics off the pitch, opened up on his heroes.

He admitted: “I would love to be compared to Gazza.

"He is an absolute icon. Him, along with Wayne Rooney, were probably the greatest England players over the last 20, 30 years.

"I know there’s been a load of good players, but they are my top two. Gazza would be first.

“I’d love to be like him, the way he played football with such joy, and everyone watching could see it. That’s what I want to do.

5 Rooney wore the No.18 as a young superstar at Everton Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

5 Gascoigne had the same digits on his shirt at the Toffees

“One of the biggest compliments is for people to say, ‘You make me happy watching football’.”

Grealish is now following in Gascoigne and Rooney's footsteps at Everton with his new shirt number.

When breaking out into instant stardom at the turn of the century, Rooney donned 18 on the back of his shirt at Goodison Park.

He wore the digits from 2001 to 2004 before moving on to Manchester United and creating a legacy as a No.10.

In a strange connection, Rooney actually became the club's No.18 after Gascoigne too.

Gascoigne wore the number on his shirt during his two seasons at Everton from 2000 to 2001.

5 Grealish has admitted his England idol is Gascoigne and he met him in 2023 Credit: Getty

5 Grealish will hope to revive his career at Everton

First meeting

Grealish met his idol Gascoigne for the first time two years ago following an England win over North Macedonia.

The Three Lions won 7-0 and speaking to talkSPORT after the match, he revealed what was said between the pair.

"I just asked him for a photo," Grealish told talkSPORT.

"He is an absolute icon, and that is the first time I have met him.

"I have seen in the past that he has said good words sometimes, and I just said 'thank you' for those nice words.

"It is an absolute pleasure to meet someone like that."

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