Wayne Rooney has hailed Jack Grealish as a "great signing" for Everton and revealed the sentimental reason behind the forward’s choice of shirt number.
Speaking on the BBC’s newly-launched The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain praised Everton boss David Moyes for bringing in a player he believes can make a big impact during his season-long stay on Merseyside.
"It is a great signing for both," Rooney said on the first episode of his new podcast.
"For Everton, I think it was a really clever move getting Moyes back in. He knows the club and the values of the club, and I think we are starting to see with the team he is putting together.
"Jack is a player who can be the difference. He has struggled for game time this last year, lost his place in the England squad.
"Everton have got him at this time where he is almost in a position where he needs to go prove himself again and I think it is a great signing."
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Indeed, Grealish will certainly be seeing this as a chance to get regular minutes and earn back his favour with Thomas Tuchel ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
And at Everton, he will almost certainly be the king of the castle, with more creative freedom afforded to him than he has experienced in his recent time at Manchester City.
What’s the connection with Grealish’s shirt number?
Rooney also revealed that Grealish’s decision to wear the No.18 shirt came from a personal conversation between the pair.
"I went for dinner and saw him. We spoke about the number 18 shirt. He said there was eight and 18 available and he said he remembered Paul Gascoigne took it and then I took it,” Rooney said.
"He took that, and it is great and I spoke about the values of the club. Everton is a club where the fans expect and demand hard work from the players.
"There is no doubt Jack will do that but then he has the quality on top of that which will make him a fans' favourite."
Rooney wore the No. 18 as a young 16-year-old breakout star between 2002 and 2004, while Gascoigne donned it just before during his two-season stay at Merseyside between 2000 and 2002.
Our new No.18. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/2u0yyx2tSp
— Everton (@Everton) August 12, 2025
Grealish himself also spoke of the connection to his idols being a big influence on his choice.
The England international has worn the No.10 shirt for both Manchester City and Aston Villa and said that the heritage of Everton’s No.18 made it the perfect fit for him, particularly since Iliman Ndiaye already occupies the Toffees’ No.10.
"There is a reason for choosing number 18," Grealish told Everton’s website.
"There were other numbers but my two favourite English players ever are Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne and I know they both wore number 18 here.
"So, as soon as I knew this deal was close, I had a look and number 18 was free, so that was perfect for me and it was the only number I was going to take from that point.
"I spoke to Wayne [Rooney] before I came here and I mentioned that to him - about the number 18 - so I hope he's happy as well!"
Grealish should be set to make his Everton debut on Monday (August 18) as the Toffees get their Premier League campaign under way against Leeds United.
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