UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham makes Jack Grealish transfer plea

7 Aug 2026 16:50 BST | 4 min read

Andy Burnham, Jack Grealish, Everton — © IMAGO

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

Make us your Google favourite

New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has given his thoughts on Everton's summer business amid a fairly low-key transfer window so far.

Article continues under the video

The 56-year-old, who succeeded Keir Starmer as PM last month, was born into a Toffees-supporting family and has maintained strong ties with the club throughout his life. Burnham is a passionate Everton fan and never misses an opportunity to discuss the club.

"How did I become a fan? I had zero choice in the matter," Burnham told GIVEMESPORT in an interview this week. "All my mum’s family, all my dad’s family, just before I was barely breathing I was blue. So I’ve been Everton all the way back."

The Toffees are coming off their first campaign in the state-of-the-art Hill Dickinson Stadium after leaving their long-time home, Goodison Park. David Moyes' men looked like European contenders for some time, but a late-season slump ultimately saw them finish in 13th.

Burnham is confident that Everton will keep improving under Moyes. He predicts them to finish seventh this term, but he is not entirely happy with the way the summer has gone so far.

Burnham calls for more investment

Although the Merseyside club have spent north of €70 million, their transfer business has been fairly muted. They have turned the loan deals of Merlin Rohl and Tyrique George permanent and brought in midfielders Hayden Hackney and Christian Norgaard.

However, they have not yet addressed the hole at right-back left by the departure of club legend Seamus Coleman, nor have they bolstered their frontline. Fan favourite Jack Grealish has, for the time being, returned to parent club Man City after his loan last season.

Burnham is hopeful that the club's new owners, the Friedkin Family, know what they're doing, but he does want to see them put a bit more money into the squad. “I’m hoping they may put some investment in this summer," he said.

Specifically, he wants to see Grealish back at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. "I’m hoping Jack Grealish will give us one more year, at least. I hope more than one, because he was a joy to watch last year and he brings a character that Evertonians can completely buy into," the PM explained.

He jokingly added that he thoroughly enjoyed the Grealish-themed doughnuts sold at the stadium last season: "I don’t really snack at games, although I became very attached to the Grealish doughnuts last year.

"I think my nieces bought one on occasion, so this was our attempt to raise the funds to keep Jack, given that the doughnuts cost about eight quid a doughnut or something. The Grealish fund was paid for by the doughnuts."

More pressing than the return of Grealish, though, is the signing of a right-back, Burnham believes. "The signs are good, but there is one thing that I would just ask: sign a right-back.

"We need a right-back. Poor old Jake [O'Brien] can’t do another season at right-back. He’s a good player, he’s a great centre-back. Buy a right-back," he pleaded.