Jack Grealish Completes Manchester City Transfer from Aston Villa on 6-Year Contract
Rob Goldberg@@TheRobGoldberg
Featured Columnist IVAugust 5, 2021
Manchester City announced the official signing of Jack Grealish on Thursday, adding the midfielder on a six-year deal after a transfer from Aston Villa:
Manchester City @ManCityHE'S HERE! <br><br>We are delighted to announce the signing of <a href="https://twitter.com/JackGrealish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackGrealish</a> on a six-year deal. <br><br>Welcome to City, Jack! 💙<br><br>🔷 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManCity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ManCity</a> | <a href="https://t.co/axa0klD5re">https://t.co/axa0klD5re</a> <a href="https://t.co/5Y3gMREmKL">pic.twitter.com/5Y3gMREmKL</a>
"I am incredibly happy to have joined Manchester City," Grealish said in a statement. "City are the best team in the country with a manager considered to be the best in the world—it’s a dream come true to be part of this club."
Manchester City will pay a reported £100 million in the deal to break the British transfer record, according to Rob Dawson of ESPN.
Grealish has spent the past eight years at Aston Villa, his boyhood club, totaling 32 goals across 213 appearances.
The 25-year-old stayed with the club during its relegation to the Championship in 2016 and helped it get promoted back to the Premier League after the 2018-19 season. Aston Villa climbed to 11th in the table in 2020-21.
Aston Villa also reached the final of the League Cup in 2020 before losing to Manchester City.
Grealish posted a message to Villa and its fans on social media.
Manchester City now adds another creative player to the roster, finishing last season with six goals and 10 assists. The only players in the Premier League with more assists were Bruno Fernandes, City's Kevin De Bruyne and Tottenham's Harry Kane, who is also reportedly angling for a move to Etihad Stadium, per James Olley of ESPN.
Grealish was also a key player for England during Euro 2020, tallying two assists across five appearances in the squad's run to the final.
It could create an even better attack for Manchester City, which already won the EPL last season by 12 points and led all teams with 83 goals scored. After reaching the Champions League final in 2021, the club could be a favorite to win it all next season.